The Kerala Hotels’ General Managers Club (KHGMC) has elected a new Executive Committee for the 2026-2028 term, with Mr. Jiju James, Corporate General Manager of Serene Group of Hotels & Resorts, Thekkady, taking over as President of the Club from Hospitality veteran Mr. Subrahmanian.P. Mr. Yakoob Khan, Corporate General Manager of Oshin Hotels & Resorts, Kozhikode, has been elected Secretary, completing the change of guard at the helm of one of Kerala’s most active professional hospitality bodies.
A well-known hospitality professional with extensive experience in hotel operations and management, Jiju James is expected to steer the Club’s agenda of strengthening professional networking, leadership development, knowledge sharing and collaborative initiatives among general managers across Kerala’s hospitality industry over the coming two years. Yakoob Khan, bringing rich operational expertise and a strong industry network of his own, will play a key role in coordinating the Club’s activities and expanding member engagement during the new term.
Rounding out the senior office bearers, Mr. Ajith Warrier, General Manager of Keys Select by Lemon Tree Hotels, Thiruvananthapuram has been elected Treasurer, while Mr. N. M. Vijaya Shankar, General Manager of Malabar Residency, Kozhikode takes over as Vice President. Mr. Makesh V. Raj, General Manager of Gokulam Grand, Kozhikode has been elected Joint Secretary.
The newly constituted Executive Committee also draws on a strong bench of industry experience, with Abhijith Balan, General Manager of Kalathil Lake Resort; Subrahmanian P., Director of Operations and formerly with CGH Earth; Mahesh B.S., General Manager of Pattom Royal Hotel; Adarsh Sasidharan, General Manager of Olivia Hospitalities Pvt. Ltd.; and Praveen Menon, General Manager of The Fog Resort & Spa, Munnar, coming on board as Executive Committee Members.
The newly elected committee will serve through the 2026-2028 term and is expected to further strengthen KHGMC’s role in promoting professional excellence, fostering networking among hospitality leaders, encouraging knowledge exchange, and supporting the continued growth and global competitiveness of Kerala’s tourism and hospitality industry.
The elections were held during the Club’s Annual General Meeting, attended by a large number of General Managers and senior hospitality professionals from across Kerala. The Kerala Hotels’ General Managers Club is one of the state’s most active professional hospitality organisations, bringing together General Managers from three-star, four-star, five-star and luxury hotels with the shared objective of promoting professional networking, leadership development, knowledge sharing and industry collaboration.
The Club’s Annual Meet, held recently at the Gokulam Park Convention Centre, Kochi, witnessed the participation of more than 200 General Managers from across the state. The gathering celebrated excellence in hospitality while providing a platform for industry leaders to discuss emerging trends, operational challenges and future opportunities facing Kerala’s hotel sector. The event also honoured General Managers who have completed 25 years of distinguished service in the hospitality industry, and featured a hospitality exhibition showcasing innovative products, technologies and services for hotels and resorts.
Leading the newly elected team, Jiju James said the Club would continue to focus on strengthening professional excellence, leadership development, skill enhancement and collaborative initiatives that contribute to the sustainable growth of Kerala’s hospitality industry.
The newly elected leadership has expressed its commitment to further strengthening the Club by promoting excellence in hospitality management, encouraging leadership development, supporting skill enhancement initiatives, and working closely with the tourism and hospitality industry to contribute to Kerala’s continued growth as one of India’s premier tourism destinations.
