GOKUL KUMAR – Chairman
Our guiding spirit is Mr. Gokul Kumar, a doyen of real estate development and hospitality. He is known for completing quality projects in time without cost overruns and to his credit, the foremost 106-room Whispering Palm Beach Resort at Candolim Goa, Hard Rock Hotel, Mussoorie, Haveli on Karnal Road. Also spearheading the first Mall of Punjab in Jalandhar, Arni University in Himachal, and many more.
A philanthropist at heart, he is known for his association with his employees, partners, and anyone who has ever associated with him for a long-term gain, business ethics with values and principles.
A philanthropist at heart, he is known for his association with his employees, partners, and anyone who has ever associated with him for a long-term gain, business ethics with values and principles.
SHIKHAR KUMAR - MD/CEO
Young, enthusiastic, and energetic, Shikhar had nursed his dream of becoming a hotelier from a very early age. He worked towards it with tenacity by first studying at the Welcome group Graduate School of Hotel Management at Manipal. This was followed by a master's degree from Les Roches International School of Hotel Management, Switzerland.
He was only 21 years of age when equipped with all the learning he set about making his dream come true. His first project was a Beach Club "Antares" followed by several restaurants, Hotels and Resorts in the state, of Goa and Karnataka. He currently manages an ever-expanding chain of Resorts under the brand name "Stone Wood Hotels & Resorts." There are nine Resorts in this portfolio with another two coming up and five planned.
He was only 21 years of age when equipped with all the learning he set about making his dream come true. His first project was a Beach Club "Antares" followed by several restaurants, Hotels and Resorts in the state, of Goa and Karnataka. He currently manages an ever-expanding chain of Resorts under the brand name "Stone Wood Hotels & Resorts." There are nine Resorts in this portfolio with another two coming up and five planned.
SAJID MAHMOOD - Senior Advisor
With over four decades of experience in the hotel industry, hoteliering runs in his bloodstream. He has extensive experience in hotel operations, sales & marketing, and development having worked with brands like ITC Hotels, Club Mahindra, Park Hotels, Carlson Hotels & Sarovar Hotels in senior positions. He has also worked across the length and breadth of the country, hardly leaving any state out, which gives him a good insight into various markets. Sajid is involved in guiding the Stone Wood Hotels & Resorts team in total hotel management including sales & marketing.
RHEA KUMAR - Brand Architect & Designer
Rhea is our in-house architect and designer responsible for designing our new resorts and oversees the detailing of any renovation of gradation. This helps us undertake projects and complete them in a timely manner. She is a qualified architect with master's from Domus Academy, Milano, Italy. Through her exposure to international standards, she has created an identity reflected in her design.
ABHIJIT DEY - Vice President
Abhijit Dey is a distinguished Project Development and Sales Strategist in the hospitality industry, renowned for his expertise in brand development, recruitment and training, and asset management. With a proven track record as a team builder and motivational speaker, Abhijit excels in crafting innovative strategies that drive growth and success. His comprehensive approach and dynamic leadership style make him a valuable asset in any organization.
ANUSH NIRESHWALIA - General Manager Sales & Marketing
With over 19 years of experience in sales and marketing leadership roles across various brands, Anush is a seasoned professional known for building high-performing teams and driving strategic growth initiatives. Passionate about delivering exceptional results for customers, Anush firmly believes in the power of collaboration, creativity, and maintaining a customer-centric approach in all endeavors.
VICTOR DUTTA - Associate Director Of Revenue
Victor Dutta, with over 18 years of diverse experience, is a seasoned professional in the hospitality industry. Having held pivotal roles at MakeMyTrip.com, Park Regis Goa, Acacia Hotels & Villas, Mango Suites, Choice Hotels, ITC Hotels Luxury Division, and Taj Hotels, he has excelled in managing revenue and sales teams, orchestrating sales penetration across India, and devising pricing and marketing strategies. Beyond work, he finds joy in playing percussion instruments, photography, cooking, and exploring new destinations.
MANJIT PARSEKAR - Marketing Manager
Manjit expertly manoeuvres us through the digital world that confuses many. He specializes in Digital Marketing using his master's degree in Marketing from the University of Goa, He has over a decade of experience in marketing having worked with brands like Wockhardt, Novotel and Mercure. His digital marketing experience has mainly been with the hotel industry.
ANSHU VERMA – General Manager
Pre-Opening and Business Development
A patient but firm team leader Anshu manages three of our resorts. He has over 14 years of experience in hotel operations, having worked with Crowne Plaza and Godwin Resorts before joining Stone Wood Hotels & Resorts. He is a hotel management graduate from the Hotel Management Institute of Goa.
ROHAN RODRIGUES - General Manager
Rohan is another highly experienced General Manager working with us. A team motivator, his core competence covers multiple areas like Operations Management, Sales & Marketing, and Public Relations. He has experience of having opened several hotels and resorts. He has done his Masters of Business Administration with a specialisation in Tourism and Hospitality Management.
MARK FERNANDEZ - Resort Manager
Mark did his grounding in hotels with the Taj Group of Hotels, where he worked across the length and breadth of the country; crossing the shores, he worked with the Imperial in Singapore and Novotel in Melbourne. In the area of Food & Beverage experience cuts across discotheques, fast food chains as well as specialty restaurants.
AMIT NANDI - Resort Manager
Specializing in running hotels and resorts in off-beat locations, Amit has worked with organizations like ITC Hotels, Orchid, Group, Daspalla Group, Nature Trails, and Sterling Holidays. He has a good pre-opening experience, especially in remote locations. Amit is a nature and adventure enthusiast with over 20 years of experience in the hotel industry.
SANAT KAMAT ELEKAR - Resort Manager
Sanat is responsible for managing one of our Resort in Morjim. A degree holder in hotel management, he has worked for brands like Cidade-de-Goa, Park Hyatt Goa (now an ITC hotel), Climax Hotels, Landmark Group, and Bloom hotels. He has been involved in the pre-opening of several hotels. His 15-year career covers hotels in India and the UAE.
ALKA PATTA - General Manager
A confident, people person and seasoned hospitality professional with over 25 years of experience. Previously, served as Resident Manager at Ramada Plaza. Worked for well-known brands such as ITC Welcomgroup, Royal Goan Beach Club (Karma Group), Carlson Hotels, Best Western hotels, Fortune ITC Ummed Jodhpur and Clarks Shiraz, Agra Currently, Resort Manager at our brand new, upscale boutique property in the City of lakes, Udaipur - Maan Vilas by Stone Wood Resorts involved in pre-opening and successfully Launched Maan Vilas
MUNISH SHARMA - General Manager
Munish Sharma, a seasoned hotel professional with 23 years of experience in the industry, has successfully contributed to renowned brands such as Ramada, Preferred, Choice Hospitality, and Welcome Heritage. His most recent role was as the General Manager at Royal Orchid Hotels in Dharamshala.
KUNAAL MEHTA - General Manager
A seasoned hospitality professional with 22 years of expertise, Kunaal completed his management studies at IHM, Pusa, New Delhi. Throughout his career, he contributed significantly to esteemed brands such as Taj Hotels, Sayaji Hotels, Radisson Hotel, Sarovar Hotels, ITC Fortune Hotels., Summit Hotels and Resorts, Cygnett, and Chlorofeel Hotels & Resorts, culminating in his current role at Stone Wood Hotels & Resorts. Kunaal has played a pivotal role in 10+ pre-opening and rebranding initiatives as a Cluster Head of Operations and General Manager. His dedication and expertise were recognized with the honor of Best Operation Manager in 2019. This journey reflects a commitment to excellence, a track record of successful hotel operations, and a proven ability to lead teams effectively in dynamic and competitive environments.
Debesh Kundu - General Manager
Having more than twenty years experience in Hotel/Resort operations.sales, Revenue and Fron office.Currently settled in Shirdi but orginally from West Bengal.Recently joined Stonewood Dandeli from Meritas hospitality Lonavala.Have worked in Meritas,Jivanta,Vits, Sarovar,IHG, Marriott.
UMESH THAKUR – General Manager
Umesh Thakur is a highly experienced General Manager with over 25 years in
the Food & Beverage industry. He began his career at the prestigious ITC Group
and later gained valuable insights at Dangaich Hotels, consistently delivering
exceptional hospitality expertise.
SATISH AGRAHAR - Chief Financial Officer
Satish Agrahar brings a wealth of experience in accounting and finance, backed by a professional education background, spanning over three decades. With over 15 years spent at senior management levels in renowned hotel brands like Intercontinental Hotels Group (IHG), Marriott, and Cidade De Goa Group as Head of Finance, Satish has demonstrated his expertise in various facets of finance, accounts, and projects.
In his current role, Satish assumes the responsibility for the overall finance management and related functions of the Stonewood Group of Resorts. His extensive industry knowledge and senior management experience make him a valuable asset in ensuring the financial well-being and success of the organization.
In his current role, Satish assumes the responsibility for the overall finance management and related functions of the Stonewood Group of Resorts. His extensive industry knowledge and senior management experience make him a valuable asset in ensuring the financial well-being and success of the organization.
UDAY MANDREKAR - Manager Finance
Uday is responsible for guiding and monitoring the finance executives at our various resorts. All Profit & Loss statements are vetted by him to ensure flawless accounting. He has over a decade of experience of working in the finance department of hotels like Paradise Village Beach Resort, La gulls Court and Nagoa Grande in Goa.
SURESH ARYA - Corporate Chef
It is believed in the hotel industry that while managers are easier to train, it takes a minimum of ten years to produce a good Chef. In the kitchen knowledge is not enough, extensive practice is required. Suresh has been through the grill for over two decades. He has worked in multiple restaurants and hotels in Pune, Mangalore, Goa, Fiji Islands, and Wellington, New Zealand. He oversees the kitchen operation of all our Resorts.
SANDEEP TIRTHGIRIKAR - Corporate Housekeeper
Sandeep is a graduate from Edinburgh Napier University United Kingdom and has a very rich work experience in the field of Hotel Housekeeping and Rooms division management spanning above 14 years. He has worked with several Indian and international hotel brands during this time, mentioning few like The Oberoi New Delhi, The Leela palace New Delhi, Taj Mahal New Delhi, Pullman Gurgaon central park (Le Meridian), JW Marriott Pune, Royal Orchid Belagavi & Nasik and Golkonda Resorts Hyderabad. He has designed and executed Covid precaution policy for the Royal Orchid Group of hotels. He has done SDP (Supervisory development program) from The Oberoi’s and MDP (Managerial development program) from JW Marriott.
KALIDAS PRABHAKAR VAJURKAR – Corporate Chief Engineer
Kalidas holds a degree in Mechanical Engineering from Govt. Polytechnic, Latur, and boasts over 30 years of experience in the engineering field. He has contributed his expertise to renowned brands such as Mercure Hotel by Accor Group (Alcon Resorts), Heritage View Resort, Fortune Select Dasve, Intercontinental Hotel, and Hotel Fortune Inn Jukaso.
SAURABH BHATTACHARYA – Corporate Training Manager
With 20 years of experience in the Hospitality industry. Saurabh is a PGDM holder in HR, an avid reader, an outspoken person, passionate about training, worked with different brands like Taj, Radisson, Dona Sylvia Beach Resort, Kenilworth Hotels, etc. He has also been the Vice Principal of IAM Institute of Hotel Management Goa. Saurabh is a Black Belt in Six Sigma and also a certified Train the Trainer.
ABHISHEK KUMAR– General Manager
Mr Abhishek has a diverse background in the hospitality industry, having worked with renowned brands such as Club Mahindra, ITC Fortune, Radisson, Ananta Spa & Resorts, Ahuja Residency Private Limited, and Ramada Encore by Wyndham. His journey has taken him through various roles, specializing in front office operations, guest services, and property management. His experience reflects a commitment to maintaining high standards of service and operational excellence across all properties he has worked