Lyfe Hotels Bhubaneswar elevates Shailesh Shekhar to Cluster Executive Chef

Lyfe Hotels Bhubaneswar’s elevation of Chef Shailesh Shekhar to Cluster Executive Chef is a significant move that reflects both his deep culinary expertise and the brand’s ambitions to strengthen its food and beverage identity across properties.

Career Highlights
- 27 years in hospitality across India, the UK, and the US.
- Leadership roles at Taj Lake Palace Udaipur, Devi Garh, Devi Ratn, Sheraton, Radisson Blu, and Cadila (F&B operations across three countries).
- Expertise spanning Indian, Asian, and Mediterranean cuisines, hotel pre-openings, kitchen design, and team development.
- Recognized among Top Chefs of India by Express Hospitality.

Role at Lyfe Hotels
- Overseeing menu development, food safety, cost management, culinary training, and guest experience across the cluster.
- Bringing innovation to diverse restaurant concepts:
- Lyfe’s Kitchen – all-day dining.
- Sweet Basil – Thai-inspired.
- Mojo – lively, social atmosphere.
- Hi Lyfe – Mediterranean character.
- Shaping the culinary direction of upcoming properties as Lyfe expands.

Strategic Importance
- Strengthens Lyfe Hotels’ positioning as a multi-restaurant lifestyle brand in Bhubaneswar and beyond.
- His blend of culinary creativity + operational depth ensures consistency while allowing experimentation across varied dining formats.
- Aligns with Lyfe’s ethos of building curious, capable, and passionate teams.

This move mirrors a broader trend in Indian hospitality: boutique and lifestyle hotel brands are investing in culinary leadership as a differentiator, recognizing that food experiences often define guest loyalty.