Hilton has appointed Sharad Kumar Upadhyay as Cluster General Manager of Hilton Gurugram Baani City Centre and DoubleTree by Hilton Gurugram Baani Square, strengthening its leadership team in one of India’s key corporate and hospitality destinations. Announced on October 22, 2026, the appointment brings more than 25 years of international hospitality experience to the two properties.
In his new role, Upadhyay will oversee hotel operations, commercial performance, team development and guest experience across both properties. His extensive background in hotel management and business strategy is expected to support Hilton’s continued growth in Gurugram’s competitive hospitality market.
Sharad Kumar Upadhyay Brings Over 25 Years of Hospitality Experience
Upadhyay has built an extensive career across India, China, Nepal and Thailand, holding leadership positions in major hospitality markets, including Beijing, Delhi NCR, Mumbai, Kathmandu, Pattaya and Bangkok.
His professional journey spans hotel operations, revenue management, food and beverage, team leadership and strategic business development. This international exposure has given him valuable insight into managing diverse teams and meeting the changing expectations of business and leisure travellers.
Before joining Hilton, Upadhyay spent nearly 25 years with IHG Hotels & Resorts, progressing through increasingly senior leadership positions. Most recently, he served as General Manager of Crowne Plaza Greater Noida, described in the announcement as the largest Crowne Plaza property in South West Asia.
A Long Career with IHG Hotels & Resorts
Upadhyay began his IHG career in 2002 at Crowne Plaza North Beijing before moving into leadership assignments at Crowne Plaza Kathmandu and across Delhi NCR.
His experience also includes serving as Director of Food and Beverage and Executive Assistant Manager in Thailand, followed by general management roles in Mumbai and Greater Noida.
During his career, he managed hotels through ownership transitions and the recovery period following the COVID-19 pandemic. His leadership approach has focused on strengthening financial performance, improving guest satisfaction and building high-performing teams.
This combination of operational and commercial experience provides a strong foundation for managing two Hilton properties in a busy corporate market.
Professional Awards and Executive Education
Throughout his career with IHG, Upadhyay received several professional honours, including the IHG Journey to Tomorrow Award, the IHG IMEA Leadership Award and the IHG Exceptional General Manager Award.
He has also pursued executive education through internationally recognised institutions to strengthen his strategic and management capabilities.
His programmes include the General Management Program at Cornell University, the Global Advanced Management Programme offered by the Indian School of Business and the National University of Singapore, and Harvard University’s Professional Development Programme in Design Thinking.
These educational experiences complement his practical hotel management background, supporting his approach to leadership, business strategy and innovation in hospitality.
Hilton Strengthens Its Leadership in Gurugram
Commenting on the appointment, Ranjan Malakar, Senior Regional Director – Operations, India, Hilton, highlighted Upadhyay’s experience across multiple markets and his ability to improve business performance through disciplined operations and strong stakeholder relationships.
His appointment reflects Hilton’s focus on maintaining effective leadership across its Gurugram properties while delivering consistent service standards and commercial results.
The two hotels serve a range of guests, including corporate travellers, business visitors and leisure guests. Upadhyay’s experience across different hotel markets is expected to help the properties respond to these varied needs.
Focus on Guest Experience and Business Growth
As Cluster General Manager, Upadhyay will focus on building capable teams, enhancing guest experiences and improving commercial performance through collaboration with hotel owners and stakeholders.
Managing two hotels in the same market requires coordination across operational planning, revenue generation, service delivery and talent development. His experience in these areas will be important as the properties continue to compete for corporate business, events and leisure bookings.
In his remarks, Upadhyay expressed enthusiasm about joining Hilton and leading both hotels. He emphasised the importance of developing diverse teams, creating memorable guest experiences and driving business growth through collaboration.
About Hilton Gurugram Baani City Centre and DoubleTree by Hilton Gurugram Baani Square
Hilton Gurugram Baani City Centre and DoubleTree by Hilton Gurugram Baani Square are part of Hilton’s hospitality presence in Gurugram, Haryana, a major commercial destination within the Delhi NCR region.
The city’s corporate offices, business districts and growing visitor economy create demand for accommodation catering to business travellers, meetings, events and leisure stays.
With Sharad Kumar Upadhyay overseeing both properties, Hilton aims to strengthen operational coordination, support commercial performance and maintain a focus on guest satisfaction across its Gurugram portfolio.
A New Chapter for Hilton in Gurugram
Sharad Kumar Upadhyay’s appointment brings extensive international hospitality experience and a track record of hotel leadership to Hilton’s Gurugram operations.
His background in managing complex hotel environments, developing teams and improving business performance positions him to lead the two properties through their next phase of growth.
As Gurugram continues to play an important role in India’s corporate travel market, strong hotel leadership will remain essential to delivering quality guest experiences and supporting long-term business success.
