Seasoned hospitality leaders come together to shape ALTARA’s vision of contemporary luxury in Indore

Mumbai, 20th August 2026: ALTARA, the upcoming luxury hospitality brand, has announced its founding leadership team ahead of its debut in Indore, Madhya Pradesh. Conceived as ‘A Sanctuary Guided by Care and Artistry,’ ALTARA brings together refined design, intuitive service and thoughtfully curated experiences that redefine contemporary luxury. The 235-key luxury hotel in Indore has been envisioned as a destination for discerning business and leisure travellers, featuring four distinctive dining destinations, expansive banqueting and event spaces spanning over 88,000 sq. ft., wellness and recreational facilities, and personalised hospitality designed to create memorable experiences.

These appointments mark an important milestone in ALTARA’s journey towards its debut, bringing together a leadership team that will translate the brand’s vision into an exceptional luxury hospitality experience. Leading every key function—from operations and commercial strategy to guest experience and people development—the team will spearhead the hotel’s pre-opening journey while laying the foundation for ALTARA’s distinctive service philosophy.

The team brings together decades of collective experience across some of the world’s most respected hospitality brands. This expertise strengthens every core function of the hotel, from operations and commercial strategy to culinary excellence, revenue management, engineering, technology, and people development.

The appointments include:

Dharmender S. Lamba – General Manager: Bringing over 26 years of experience with The Oberoi Hotels & Resorts across India and Egypt, Mr. Lamba will lead the overall pre-opening and operational strategy for ALTARA Indore. His expertise spans hotel operations, commercial strategy, revenue optimisation, guest experience and team development.

Shruti Jain – Financial Controller: With over eight years of luxury hospitality experience across Marriott Hotels & Resorts and The Ritz-Carlton, she brings strong expertise in financial planning, strategic analysis and pre-opening operations.

Deepak Sharma – Director of Sales & Marketing: With over 27 years of experience across ITC Hotels, Marriott International, Hyatt Hotels, Sterling Holidays, Clarks Hotels and Radisson, he will lead brand positioning, sales and marketing strategy for ALTARA.

Yogesh Patel – Director of Sales: With more than a decade of experience across Marriott International, Conrad, Fairmont and Taj Hotels, he will oversee corporate, leisure and wedding sales.

Jharna Pandya – Executive Housekeeper: Bringing over 15 years of experience with Marriott International, Hilton, Hyatt, Radisson and Trident, she will lead housekeeping operations, service standards and guest experience initiatives.

Sameer Kher – Director of Food & Beverage: With over 15 years of experience across ITC Hotels, DLF Ltd., The Ritz-Carlton Residences and Taj Hotels, he will lead the hotel’s food and beverage strategy and innovation.

Tirtha Roy Choudhury – Director of Human Resources: Bringing more than two decades of experience across Hyatt, Ananda in the Himalayas and IHG Hotels, he will oversee talent acquisition, learning, culture and organisational development.

Vinjamuri Sriram Dutt – Learning & Development Manager: With over 10 years of experience across Marriott International, Burj Al Arab and Tulah Clinical Wellness, he brings expertise in learning and development; culture building and talent development.

Chef Avanish Jain – Executive Chef: Bringing nearly three decades of global culinary experience across Oberoi, IHG, The Peninsula, Kempinski, Four Seasons and Marriott International, he will lead ALTARA’s culinary vision and dining experiences.

Sushant Agarwal – Director of Engineering: With leadership experience across Roseate Hotels & Resorts, IHG, Marriott International and Taj Hotels, he will oversee engineering operations, infrastructure and technical excellence.

Rakesh Ranjan – Security Manager: Bringing over 17 years of expertise across Taj, Hyatt, Marriott, Accor, ITC and Hilton Hotels, he will lead safety, security and risk management for the property.

Anuj Kathuria – Director of Revenue: With more than two decades of experience across IHG Hotels & Resorts, Radisson Blu Plaza and Pride Plaza Aerocity, he will lead revenue strategy, pricing optimisation and commercial performance.

Rameez Altaf Shaikh – Information Technology Manager: Bringing over nine years of experience across Four Seasons, Taj and Radisson Hotels, he will oversee technology infrastructure, information security and digital systems.

Commenting on the appointments, Mr. Raoof Dhanani – Managing Director of Sayaji Hotels Limited, said, “India’s luxury hospitality landscape is entering a defining phase, driven by rising affluence and evolving traveller expectations that extend well beyond the country’s traditional gateway cities. Indore’s emergence as one of Central India’s most dynamic commercial and lifestyle destinations makes it a natural choice for ALTARA’s debut. We are delighted to welcome an accomplished leadership team whose collective expertise will be instrumental in bringing our vision for ALTARA to life and delivering a distinctive luxury experience for our guests.”

These appointments establish a strong leadership foundation for ALTARA ahead of its debut. Guided by an accomplished team of hospitality professionals, the brand is poised to usher in a new chapter of luxury hospitality—one defined by thoughtful service, refined experiences and enduring excellence.

About ALTARA

Altara is an ultra-luxury hotel brand from Sayaji Hotels Ltd, the hospitality group founded in 1982, shaped around the belief that true luxury lies in feeling recognised, cared for and remembered. Inspired by the guiding light of the stars and the enduring spirit of a matriarch, Altara brings together modern refinement, thoughtful design and intuitive hospitality. Its hotels are conceived as sanctuaries where culture, craft and personal care come together across stays, dining and celebrations. Designed for leisure and business travellers, special occasions and corporate gatherings, Altara offers thoughtfully appointed rooms and suites, distinctive dining experiences and expansive event spaces, with a focus on warm, attentive service. The brand’s ultra-luxury destination opens in Indore, Madhya Pradesh, marking a new expression of hospitality for Sayaji Hotels as it continues to grow across India.