Sandipan Kahali Appointed Food & Beverage Manager at ITC Narmada — Strengthening F&B Leadership in Ahmedabad

A leadership transition at ITC Narmada, Ahmedabad, part of the ITC Hotels portfolio, sees Sandipan Kahali take charge as Food & Beverage Manager at the luxury property. The appointment comes at a time when food and beverage operations are increasingly central to guest experience and revenue performance in premium hospitality markets, particularly in a culturally vibrant city like Ahmedabad.

Career Foundation

Early exposure to diverse operational environments at ITC Grand Central, Mumbai helped shape Kahali’s understanding of multi-format food and beverage operations, including restaurants, lounges, and large-scale banqueting. His tenure there built a foundation in managing service delivery across varied guest touchpoints while navigating the complexities of high-volume urban hospitality.

Subsequent roles within the ITC Hotels ecosystem across Vadodara and Ahmedabad further expanded his capabilities. Working in different market contexts allowed him to refine skills in guest engagement, team coordination, and pre-opening planning, while also adapting to the evolving expectations of both business and leisure travellers.

Most Recent Role and Key Achievements

Prior to his current role, Kahali led the food and beverage function at ITC Rajputana, Jaipur, where he managed an extensive portfolio of dining venues alongside in-room dining and banquet operations. His responsibilities involved overseeing large teams, ensuring operational consistency, and driving performance across multiple revenue streams.

During this period, the property recorded notable growth in its F&B business, supported by structured operational strategies and service improvements. The hotel’s food and beverage division also received recognition with the “Food & Beverage Team of the Year” award for FY 2024–25, reflecting both team performance and leadership alignment.

Education and Professional Competencies

Kahali’s professional grounding is complemented by formal hospitality education, equipping him with a structured approach to service design and operational management. His academic training supports practical competencies in menu planning, cost control, and guest experience delivery, all of which are critical in large-format luxury hotel environments.

Scope of New Role

At ITC Narmada, Kahali will oversee all aspects of food and beverage operations, including specialty restaurants, in-room dining, and banqueting services. His role will focus on maintaining service standards, enhancing guest engagement, and implementing strategies to improve revenue performance through menu engineering and outlet optimisation.

Positioned as a key luxury destination in Ahmedabad, the hotel operates in a competitive market where curated dining experiences play a defining role in brand differentiation. This appointment signals a continued emphasis by ITC Hotels on strengthening in-house expertise to drive consistency and innovation in its F&B offerings.

Kahali noted that joining the property presents an opportunity to engage with a diverse guest base while contributing to the city’s evolving culinary landscape, highlighting his focus on delivering refined dining experiences.

The appointment underscores ITC Narmada’s intent to further strengthen its culinary positioning and operational performance in the luxury hospitality segment.