Novotel Goa Resort & Spa and Novotel Goa Candolim have appointed Udayan Damodharan as the new Director of Talent and Culture. Damodharan has over 25 years of experience in the hospitality industry, out of which he spent 14 years with Accor. Damodharan is the astute leader in the category to enable and further elevate talent acquisition, employee engagement, and leadership development for both properties.
Udayan will focus on creating a more positive and inclusive work environment in his new role. He’ll appoint and retain top talent and develop training platforms to ensure that employees have the skills and knowledge they need to succeed. He will bring initiatives aimed at improving the workforce’s quality of life to the forefront. With employee engagement as his priority, he plans to create an environment where staff can flourish and actively participate in Accor’s development programmes. Under Accor’s great vision for an inclusive workforce, he will create a diverse manpower ecosystem across the social strata. Udayan plans to collaborate with training institutions, establish formal partnerships with hotel schools, and leverage social media for active recruitment.
Udayan’s experience encompasses the pre-opening and successful launches of several properties across India, including Accor properties like Grand Mercure Bengaluru and Novotel Kolkata. He is also committed to social responsibility and aims to actively engage hotel staff in CSR initiatives for both properties.
“I am thrilled to be joining Novotel Goa Resort & Spa and Novotel Goa Candolim,” said Udayan Damodharan on his appointment. “Goa’s hospitality sector is experiencing a surge in manpower recruitment, and Novotel is perfectly positioned to capitalise on this trend. Both properties are going through a leadership transformation, and I am confident that my experience and expertise will be significant in helping the team achieve its goals. I am particularly passionate about creating a work environment where employees feel valued and empowered to grow their careers. This will be crucial to attracting and retaining top talent in Goa’s dynamic hospitality market.”
“I’m delighted to welcome Udayan to the Novotel Goa team,” exclaimed Sachin Maheshwary, General Manager, Novotel Goa Resort & Spa and Novotel Goa Candolim. “His passion for hospitality and proven track record with Accor, particularly in pre-openings, make him a perfect fit. Udayan’s commitment to employee development aligns perfectly with our focus on creating a thriving workplace culture. I have no doubt he’ll play a key role in attracting and retaining the best talent, allowing our team to continue exceeding guest expectations.”
Udayan has always loved a good challenge. After getting his diploma in Personnel Management, he jumped right into the hospitality industry, even though he didn’t know much about it at first. He found the fast-paced world of hotels exciting, and he’s been there ever since! A great team player who focuses on giving guests the best possible service without cutting corners, Udayan’s interests go beyond business. He understands the ins and outs of hotels and cares a lot about his employees, wanting to help them grow in their careers.
