Sandeep Kapoor Appointment as Executive Chef at ITC Gardenia

Introduction

A strategic leadership move at ITC Gardenia, Bengaluru signals renewed emphasis on culinary direction, as the luxury property appoints Sandeep Kapoor as its new Executive Chef, reinforcing its positioning in the premium dining and banqueting segment.

Career Foundation

The professional journey of Sandeep Kapoor is closely tied to the evolution of ITC Hotels, where his grounding in kitchen operations began early at ITC Gardenia itself. His formative years in the property allowed him to understand the intricacies of large hotel kitchens, from ingredient sourcing to execution under high service pressure.

Over time, his exposure expanded across multiple operational formats within the brand, enabling him to navigate both restaurant and banquet environments. These early experiences built his command over structured kitchen systems, team coordination, and the balance between consistency and innovation in hospitality dining.

Rather than progressing through roles in a linear path, his career reflects a steady build-up of expertise shaped by diverse culinary assignments within the ITC ecosystem.

Most Recent Role and Key Achievements

Before returning to ITC Gardenia, Kapoor was leading the culinary function for Meetings, Incentives, Conferences, and Exhibitions (MICE) at ITC Grand Chola, Chennai. In this capacity, he was responsible for managing large-format banquet dining, often catering to high-volume events requiring precision, scalability, and consistency.

Handling such complex operations required not only menu engineering but also logistical coordination across multiple service points. His work in this segment contributed to maintaining operational efficiency while meeting the brand’s standards of quality and presentation across high-pressure service environments.

His ability to align culinary delivery with event-driven hospitality formats positioned him as a strong operational leader within the group.

Education and Professional Competencies

An alumnus of Institute of Hotel Management (IHM), Kolkata, Kapoor’s academic foundation in hospitality has translated into strong technical and managerial capabilities. His training is reflected in his structured approach to kitchen leadership, combining classical culinary techniques with evolving global influences. His familiarity with ITC Hotels’ culinary philosophy further strengthens his alignment with the brand’s service and sustainability frameworks.

Scope of New Role

In his new role at ITC Gardenia, Kapoor will oversee all culinary operations, including menu development, kitchen management, and banquet execution across the property’s dining venues. The hotel, positioned as a luxury urban retreat in Bengaluru, operates in a competitive hospitality market where differentiated food and beverage offerings are key to guest retention and brand recall.

His appointment is expected to enhance the hotel’s culinary programming while maintaining operational discipline across formats. Strategically, this move reflects ITC Hotels’ focus on reinforcing internal leadership talent to sustain brand consistency and elevate guest dining experiences.

The return of Sandeep Kapoor to ITC Gardenia marks a full-circle moment, aligning experience with institutional knowledge to strengthen the property’s culinary direction.