Rajesh Gopalakrishnan
Hyderabad
Summary
Dynamic hospitality executive with 25+ years of global experience leading luxury hotel operations, brand launches, and turnaround strategies. Proven success in pre-openings, stakeholder engagement, and delivering exceptional guest experiences. Adept at managing large teams, driving profitability, and positioning properties as market leaders.
Overview
34
34
years of professional experience
Work History
General Manager
The Leela Hyderabad
Hyderabad
02.2025 - Current
- Spearheaded launch of 156-key luxury city hotel with 7 F&B outlets, wellness center, and couture retail.
- Achieved ARI #1 and sustained RGI >90%; TripAdvisor Top 10 ranking with NPS >85%.
- Led team of 475+, embedding luxury standards across all guest touchpoints.
- Delivered 45% YOY GOP with 67% flow-through, setting profitability benchmarks.
- Drove innovation in culinary offerings and digital guest engagement.
Vice President Development
GreenPark Hotels and Resorts Limited
08.2024 - 02.2025
- Role was to seek opportunities in Airport Concessionaire/Q-Commerce/e-commerce/digital business in an FMCG, F&B, or D2C brand.
- The opportunity helped me build strong understanding of online retail dynamics, digital marketing, analytics, and customer journeys.
- I was able to build strong relationships with airport and retail marketplace partners.
- Acquired an analytical mindset with a focus on ROI and performance metrics.
- This stint required me to display excellent communication, contracting, leasing and negotiation skills.
Asst Vice President
Marigold Hotel and Green Park Hotel Hyderabad
08.2021 - 08.2024
- Joined as a Senior General Manager managing a complex of two boutique properties, with inventory of 350 rooms, 4 FAB outlets, Events with a strength of 550 employees.
- The facility is spread out in 3,5 Acres with 45652 Sq.mtrs of built-up space.
- I was responsible for the complete business, strategy, and planning.
- I take the ownership for the operations to deliver predictable output and oversee key business metrics like revenues, cost control and customer escalations.
- I engage with the stakeholders to understand the changing business needs.
- My experience helps to proactively build and maintain an efficient and effective service architecture to drive business results in line with the ownership's prioritized objectives.
- Key achievement post C19 was to challenge the status quo and discover business development opportunities, closing the FY 2023-24 with resounding profitability.
- Strategically had to collaborate with the ownership to execute new ideas, like automation to build efficiencies on scale.
General Manager
Radisson Blu Resort Visakhapatnam
Visakhapatnam
03.2020 - 08.2021
- In this senior leadership role, I opened the largest convention resort hotel on the eastern coast of India.
- I managed the project, delivering the standards to expectations of the stakeholders and successfully opened the hotel in August of 2021.
- The role needed managing the ramping up on recruitment and training of the team members before pre-opening.
- Setting up the infrastructure to deliver one of the largest convention spaces in Vizag catering to destination weddings and MICE.
- Getting the product saleable on all the channels, building the digital marketing content, and tying up with all the partners to generate demand for the resort.
General Manager
Accor Novotel Visakhapatnam Varun Beach & The Bheemli Resort
Visakhapatnam
05.2018 - 03.2020
- 225 rooms, INR 780 million revenue turnover.
- Market leader on RevPAR and turnover, it is the largest convention hotel on the East coast of India.
- The hotel yields GOP of 45% YOY, with flow thru of above 67%.
General Manager
Accor Grand Mercure Vadodara
Vadodara
02.2017 - 05.2018
- 146 rooms, INR 360 million revenue turnover.
- Rebranding and launch of the erstwhile Surya Palace Hotel as a Grand Mercure.
- Spearheaded the integration of the old team with new team members, establish the brand philosophy and initiate the Hotel Management Agreement by pro-active communication with the owners.
General Manager
Accor Ibis Chennai City Centre
Chennai
11.2015 - 02.2017
- 155 rooms, INR 160 million revenue turnover.
- Successful opening of this hotel with a short pre-opening of just 45 days, Comp-set of full-service hotels have been able to achieve fair-share in occupancy and 0.9 in ARI in first year of operations.
- Launched the hotel with one of its kind campaigns 'Pay What You Want', helped the hotel to nearly 48% direct bookings and online visibility acquiring Media valuation worth of $ 30,000.
General Manager
Accor Ibis Chennai SIPCOT
Chennai
02.2014 - 11.2015
- 176 rooms, INR 140 million revenue turnover.
- Successful opening in a tough price-sensitive market, getting a 33% market share and selling the largest number of rooms among the competition hotels.
- Achieved No.1 status among all the 357 hotels in Chennai, consistently ranked among the Top 20 in 2015 in Chennai city on Tripadvisor.
General Manager
The Raintree St Mary's
Chennai
12.2012 - 01.2014
- 100 rooms, INR 240 million revenue turnover.
- Achieved No1 status in 2013 among all the 286 Star hotels in Chennai city on Tripadvisor, staff strength of 232 employees.
- Improved F&B revenues by 30 % in the then newly launched Pan-Asian restaurant 'Chap Chay'.
- Increase the profitability of Rooms Division from 78% to 82% and energy savings of 5% YOY.
Resident Manager
AccorHotels Novotel Hyderabad Airport
Hyderabad
08.2011 - 11.2012
- 303 rooms, INR 300 million revenue turnover.
- Supporting the General Manager, with staff strength of 314 employees, banqueting capacity of 2000 guest's being a popular destination for destination weddings.
- Managed Rooms Division key highlights being the GSS improved from 7.5 to 8.4 YTD 2011, departmental profitability increased to 85% from 78% and energy savings of 8% YOY helped increase the GOP from 25% to 33%.
- Vegetable garden as part of the Sustainable development activity.
Hotel Manager
AccorHotels Mercure Hyderabad
Hyderabad
04.2010 - 08.2011
- Pre-opening Hotel Manager in the bustling central region of Hyderabad, successfully opened the hotel within six months of signing of the HMA.
- Completed my IHMP from Accor meant to help move into GM roles and successfully increased overall revenues by 25% YOY for 2011.
Director of Food and Beverage
Accor Novotel Hyderabad Convention Centre (HICC)
Hyderabad
12.2005 - 04.2010
- Joined as an Executive Chef was part for the pre-opening team of the hotel and largest Convention centre, in India and still recognized as the best address for International MICE.
- As the Director Food and Beverage managed a team of 300 employees, serving on an average 50,000 to 60,000 guests each month with high standards of service and efficiency.
- Was responsible for the creation of the Mexican Restaurant La Cantina and opening of the largest nightclub Excess Club in 2008.
Chef de cuisine
Grand Hyatt
Mumbai, Maharashtra
01.2004 - 11.2005
Executive Sous Chef
The Leela Kempinski
Mumbai, Maharashtra
07.2003 - 01.2004
Executive Chef
Radisson Blu
Chennai
10.2001 - 04.2003
Sous Chef
Taj Coromandel
Chennai
11.1998 - 10.2001
Head Chef Roles
02.1996 - 11.1998
Junior Sous Chef
Taj Coromandel
Chennai
07.1994 - 02.1996
HOMT
Taj Coromandel
Chennai
06.1992 - 06.1994
Education
MBA - International Hospitality and Service Industries Management, Marketing and Innovation
Glion Institute of Higher Education
01.2017
Diploma - Hotel Management & Catering Technology
Institute of Hotel Management
01.1992
Skills
- Luxury Hotel Operations
- Pre-Opening & Launch Strategy
- P&L Management & Profit Optimization
- Team Leadership & Talent Development
- Guest Experience Innovation
- Brand Positioning & Market Strategy
- Stakeholder Engagement
- Crisis Management & Turnaround Strategy
Languages
English
Tamil
Hindi
Marathi
It Skills
- Microsoft Office
- Opera PMS
- Micros-Fidelio Materials Control
- Delphi
Children
- Son, Hotelier, Mumbai
- Daughter, Under-graduation student, Hyderabad
Personal Information
- Title: Strategic Hospitality Leader
- Marital Status: Married
Hobbies and Interests
- Leisure lawn tennis and cycling
- Passionate about jazz and pop music
- Avid traveler and culinary enthusiast
Timeline
General Manager
The Leela Hyderabad
02.2025 - Current
Vice President Development
GreenPark Hotels and Resorts Limited
08.2024 - 02.2025
Asst Vice President
Marigold Hotel and Green Park Hotel Hyderabad
08.2021 - 08.2024
General Manager
Radisson Blu Resort Visakhapatnam
03.2020 - 08.2021
General Manager
Accor Novotel Visakhapatnam Varun Beach & The Bheemli Resort
05.2018 - 03.2020
General Manager
Accor Grand Mercure Vadodara
02.2017 - 05.2018
General Manager
Accor Ibis Chennai City Centre
11.2015 - 02.2017
General Manager
Accor Ibis Chennai SIPCOT
02.2014 - 11.2015
General Manager
The Raintree St Mary's
12.2012 - 01.2014
Resident Manager
AccorHotels Novotel Hyderabad Airport
08.2011 - 11.2012
Hotel Manager
AccorHotels Mercure Hyderabad
04.2010 - 08.2011
Director of Food and Beverage
Accor Novotel Hyderabad Convention Centre (HICC)
12.2005 - 04.2010
Chef de cuisine
Grand Hyatt
01.2004 - 11.2005
Executive Sous Chef
The Leela Kempinski
07.2003 - 01.2004
Executive Chef
Radisson Blu
10.2001 - 04.2003
Sous Chef
Taj Coromandel
11.1998 - 10.2001
Head Chef Roles
02.1996 - 11.1998
Junior Sous Chef
Taj Coromandel
07.1994 - 02.1996
HOMT
Taj Coromandel
06.1992 - 06.1994
MBA - International Hospitality and Service Industries Management, Marketing and Innovation
Glion Institute of Higher Education
Diploma - Hotel Management & Catering Technology
Institute of Hotel Management