Ventive Hospitality Introduces ‘Ventive Crown’ to Champion Talent Across Its Luxury Hotels

Ventive Hospitality has launched Ventive Crown, a quarterly internal recognition platform designed to spotlight excellence, creativity, and skill across its luxury hotel portfolio. The initiative reflects the company’s growing focus on people-led luxury, placing employee talent at the centre of guest experience and brand strength.

Conceptualised as a company-wide platform, Ventive Crown brings together multiple international hotel brands operating under Ventive’s Pune portfolio. By doing so, it creates a shared space where teams from different properties can engage, compete, and be recognised for their contribution to hospitality craftsmanship.

A Purpose-Driven Recognition Platform

Ventive Crown has been developed to identify and celebrate internal talent across key hospitality functions while encouraging collaboration across properties. In a sector where structured recognition platforms for hotel professionals—particularly chefs—are still limited in India, the initiative creates a rare and focused opportunity to honour excellence behind the scenes.

The programme also positions Ventive Hospitality as a forward-thinking organisation that views talent recognition not as a one-time reward, but as a strategic driver of culture, retention, and service quality.

Inaugural Chef’s Edition Showcases Culinary Skill and Storytelling

Career Background

The first edition of Ventive Crown debuted as a Chef’s Edition, bringing together six teams and twelve chefs from Ventive’s Pune-based luxury hotels. The competition was designed as a high-pressure culinary challenge, culminating in a final showcase featuring shortlisted teams and a wild-card entry.

What distinguished the event was its emphasis on storytelling alongside technique. Participants presented dishes inspired by personal memories, regional traditions, and emotional connections to food. From reinterpretations of classic preparations to deeply rooted regional recipes, each creation reflected both individual identity and culinary innovation.

Winning Creations Earn a Place on Hotel Menus

At the conclusion of the competition, four standout dishes were awarded the Ventive Crown for excellence in flavour, authenticity, technique, and presentation. The winning entries included:

• Butter Chicken – DoubleTree by Hilton Pune

• Key Achievements

  Nizami Gosht Dum – Oakwood Pune

• Tripolia Dal – JW Marriott Pune

• Bread Kheema Kachori – The Ritz-Carlton Pune

As part of the recognition, these award-winning dishes have been introduced on the menus of their respective hotels, allowing guests to experience the chefs’ creativity firsthand.

Leadership Perspective on Talent-Led Hospitality

Current Role & Responsibilities

Speaking on the initiative, Ranjit Batra, CEO of Ventive Hospitality Limited, highlighted the role of people in shaping food and beverage excellence. He noted that Ventive Crown exists to acknowledge the dedication, skill, and consistency of teams who often work behind the scenes, adding that meaningful recognition can significantly elevate confidence, visibility, and professional growth.

Mayur Tiwari, AVP – Food & Beverages and Culinary, described Ventive Crown as a cultural platform rather than a single event. He emphasised that the Chef’s Edition was designed by chefs, for chefs, with the intent of honouring creativity while simultaneously enhancing the guest dining experience.

Expanding Beyond the Kitchen

While the inaugural edition focused on culinary talent, Ventive Crown is planned as a multi-disciplinary initiative. Future editions will recognise excellence across additional hospitality functions, including mixology, housekeeping, and guest services, further strengthening cross-functional appreciation and engagement.

By formalising recognition for those who deliver luxury experiences every day, Ventive Crown reinforces a core belief at Ventive Hospitality: exceptional guest experiences begin with empowered, celebrated teams.