With his promotion to Cluster General Manager for ITC Royal Bengal and ITC Sonar, Gaurav Soneja has cemented his outstanding career with ITC Hotels by leading with excellence. He was recently given the responsibility of managing Storii by ITC Hotels Devasom Resort & Spa, Kolkata, demonstrating his broad leadership and dynamic adaptability.

As the General Manager of ITC Royal Bengal, Gaurav moved to Kolkata in 2022 from ITC Gardenia, Bengaluru, bringing a plethora of experience with him. In 2007, he started working at ITC Hotels at the Welcomhotel Sheraton New Delhi. Over the years, he has held senior managerial roles in Bangalore, Delhi, and Mumbai, where he paved the way for his successors.

Gaurav was an essential member of the pre-opening team at ITC Royal Bengal & ITC Sonar in Kolkata, acting as the Cluster Hotel Manager. In this role, he played a vital role in the positioning and introduction of the 693-key attraction, which offers 14 dining options, conference spaces, a spa, the largest pillar-free hall in Eastern India (the Bengal Stateroom), and long-term serviced apartments. Through smart thinking in the face of intense competition, he made the hotel complex a premier destination in India.

Before joining ITC Hotels, Gaurav worked in foreign markets after receiving his degree from IHM Bangalore. In 2009, when ITC Gardenia in Bengaluru was still in the pre-opening stages, he played a crucial role as beverage manager in developing the hotel’s beverage menu. From 2009 until 2013, he worked as part of the pre-opening team at ITC Gardenia, and he made a substantial contribution to the establishment’s success. Later, Gaurav took a job as the food and beverage manager at ITC Windsor in Bengaluru, ITC Grand Central in Mumbai, and ITC Sonar in Kolkata.

Gaurav was elevated as the Cluster Hotel Manager for both ITC Sonar and ITC Royal Bengal in 2018 as a result of his achievement there when he was promoted to Resident Manager at ITC Sonar. Before taking a job as hotel manager at the flagship ITC Maurya in New Delhi, he was instrumental in the grand opening of the ITC Royal Bengal. He was in charge of the hotel’s general operations in this capacity. In November 2021, Gaurav made a comeback to ITC Gardenia in the role of General Manager.

Gaurav is a devoted golfer and a strong proponent of cooperation. He enjoys spending time with his daughter and family and is strongly interested in food and drink. He is the proud parent of Whisky and Tipsy, two adorable dogs.

Gaurav Soneja oversees ITC Hotels Devasom Resort & Spa, Kolkata, and is a prime example of committed leadership and operational excellence at every level. He also has the additional responsibility of managing Storii. His modern approach to management, when combined with goal-oriented tactics, is still highly regarded in the hospitality sector.

Priyanka Dutta