Minor Hotels has appointed Puneet Dhawan as Head of Asia as the group plans its growth in Asia and India. Puneet Dhawan, a seasoned professional with a 30-year hospitality career spanning Asia, Europe, and the Middle East, will be responsible for the performance of all Minor Hotels properties in Asia.
He will work closely with the Minor Hotels senior leadership team and report to Minor Hotels CEO Dillip Rajakarier. Dhawan’s most recent role was as Senior Vice President of Operations – India & South Asia at Accor, where he led the group’s business development, owner management, hotel operations, and commercial team, driving Accor’s growth in the region.
Notably, he oversaw the opening of the first Raffles hotel in India. His 25-year tenure at Accor also included time as the group’s Vice President of Operations, Middle East, and several General Manager roles. Dhawan’s journey in the hospitality industry began with the Mandarin Oriental Hotel Group. He holds a Bachelor of Science in Hospitality Management from the University of Massachusetts Amherst and will be based in the group’s Bangkok Corporate Office when he joins Minor Hotels in July.
Marriott International has signed an agreement with the Balwa Group to launch the first Tribute Portfolio Hotel in Mumbai, The Ballard, a Tribute Portfolio Hotel. Located amongst the most coveted commercial areas in Mumbai, Ballard Estate is Mumbai’s oldest and most iconic business district. It is steeped in history, dotted with grand buildings of exquisite Victorian architecture, quiet roads with ample greenery and spacious offices. The hotel is anticipated to open in March 2026.
Dillip Rajakarier, CEO, Minor Hotels and Group CEO, Minor International, commented, “We are excited to welcome Puneet to the Minor Hotels family. His operational experience and empowering leadership will be invaluable as we work to achieve our growth ambitions in Asia and India in the coming years.”In January, Minor Hotels unveiled its target to add more than 200 new openings to its global portfolio, with approximately half in Asia, by the end of 2026. More recently, the hotel group announced its plan to open 50 new hotels in India within the next ten years, including the debut of its luxury Anantara brand later this year in Jaipur.
