Mumbai, Maharashtra, India, March 2026 — The Phoenix Mills Ltd. has appointed Varun Chhibber as CEO: Hotels & President: Malls. Based in Mumbai, he has stepped into the role to lead the group’s hotel business and mall portfolio, bringing extensive luxury hospitality leadership experience and multi-property operations expertise.
In this role, Varun Chhibber will oversee strategic and operational priorities across Phoenix’s hotels and consumption centres, strengthening guest experience, commercial performance, and operational excellence across the group’s integrated destinations that combine retail, entertainment, food & beverage, residential, and office assets.
Prior to joining The Phoenix Mills Ltd., Varun Chhibber served as General Manager at The St. Regis Mumbai, where he led hotel operations in one of India’s most prominent luxury hospitality properties.
Earlier, he was Complex General Manager for The Leela Ambience Gurugram Hotel & Residences and The Leela Ambience Convention Hotel, leading leadership responsibilities across two major luxury assets. He also served as General Manager at The Leela Ambience Gurugram Hotel & Residences, leading large teams focused on bespoke guest experiences and service excellence.
Before that, he served as General Manager at The Leela Ambience Convention Hotel, where he led one of India’s largest convention hotel operations. In this role, the hotel achieved strong business growth and performance outcomes and strengthened its market position.
Earlier in his career, Varun Chhibber spent significant years with The Oberoi Group, serving as General Manager, Hotel Manager, and Executive Assistant Manager – Rooms, contributing to operational leadership, service design, revenue management, safety and security, and asset upkeep in a flagship luxury hotel environment.
He also led the pre-opening as Resort Manager at Velassaru Maldives, Universal Resorts, overseeing organization structure, service design, talent onboarding, restaurant and bar concepts, sales and marketing sequencing, contracting, and the property’s physical launch, with early operational profitability.
His earlier hospitality leadership includes food and beverage leadership roles within The Oberoi Group, including Food and Beverage Manager and other F&B management responsibilities across multiple locations, building a strong foundation in luxury service operations and guest experience delivery.
He completed his post-graduate studies in hospitality at The Oberoi Centre of Learning & Development, strengthening professional preparation for leadership across luxury hospitality.
About The Phoenix Mills Ltd.
The Phoenix Mills Ltd. was founded in 1905 and has evolved from a textile manufacturing company into a leading consumption centre developer and operator in India. Listed on the BSE since 1959, the group has developed flagship destinations including High Street Phoenix and Palladium in Mumbai, and expanded geographically through Phoenix Market City projects in Pune, Bengaluru, Kurla, and Chennai.
Over the years, Phoenix has diversified into residential, commercial properties, hospitality, and food & beverage, and continues to expand its portfolio with new projects and benchmark-setting developments.
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