Brands
UHM enters India with Rosastays buyout
DUBAI: United Hospitality Management has stormed into India by snapping up boutique brand Rosastays, firing the starting gun on a high-stakes expansion in one of the world’s fastest-growing hospitality markets. Led by managing director Deepika Arora, UHM inherits 17 operational properties across hotspots including Goa, Kasauli, Nainital, Pushkar and Shimla, giving it an instant footprint and a loyal owner base that loves experiential travel.
Select Rosastays hotels will rebrand into the UHM portfolio between late 2025 and early 2026. A pipeline of more than 700 keys, including Garner projects with IHG Hotels & Resorts, signals an aggressive run at South Asia’s hotel owners who crave global standards delivered with local smarts.
Chief operating officer for the Middle East, India and Southeast Asia, Klaus Assmann, said India was among hospitality’s most dynamic battlegrounds and the company was betting long on the region’s soaring demand. His confidence rests on Arora, a respected industry strategist with two decades across global brands, who has sharpened Dusit’s comeback in India and now has the mandate to shape UHM’s presence in a market hungry for differentiation.
Arora said UHM was landing at a moment when travellers want authenticity, design and memorable service. Her playbook is built on global systems, strong owner economics and a clear aim to set new standards from boutique to luxury.
With more than 30 years of luxury know-how, UHM manages marquee properties from Hyatt Regency Lisbon and Sheraton Cascais to Th8 Palm Dubai Beach Resort and Movenpick JLT. Its reach extends into 60 plus restaurants and innovative wellness brands such as Serenity, Pure by Serenity and Active by Serenity, reinforcing its credentials as a lifestyle operator rather than a mere hotel manager.
A ”glocal” mindset, matching international rigour with local intelligence, has made UHM a trusted partner for giants like Marriott, Accor, Wyndham, Hyatt, Yotel and IHG. India is the newest stage of an audacious act.
The curtain has just risen and UHM is here to steal the spotlight.
Brands
Rohini Laya Venkateswaran named executive director at Gillette India
P&G veteran with two decades of experience steps into leadership role
NEW DELHI: Rohini Laya Venkateswaran has been appointed executive director at Gillette India Pvt. Ltd., bringing with her more than two decades of experience across sales, strategy and brand leadership within the consumer goods sector. In her new role, she will help steer the company’s strategic direction and growth while strengthening its footprint in the grooming and personal care category.
Venkateswaran joins the board after a long career at Procter & Gamble, where she spent nearly 21 years shaping sales strategy, building brands and driving market expansion across India and international markets.
Most recently, she served as chief sales officer for India at P&G. Prior to that, she was vice president and country manager for east gulf markets, overseeing operations in Kuwait, Oman, Bahrain and Qatar while also guiding sales strategy across the Gulf region, including the UAE.
Earlier in her career, she led sales strategy and planning for India while serving as marketing leader for brands such as Olay and Old Spice. During this stint, she focused on reshaping go-to-market channels and building awareness through digital, social and influencer-led campaigns to drive growth.
Her journey at P&G also included roles such as director sales strategy and planning leader India, associate director modern retail and ecommerce, regional manager for Delhi and Rajasthan, and several key account and trade marketing roles across the country. She also spent time in the United States working on the P&G Walmart international team, collaborating on global retail initiatives.
Venkateswaran holds an MBA in marketing from SP Jain Institute of Management and Research and a bachelor’s degree in mechanical engineering from RV College of Engineering.
With her mix of sales acumen, brand-building experience and global exposure, Venkateswaran’s appointment signals a sharpened focus on growth and market leadership for Gillette India.
