Bengaluru: Bhagini Hospitalities Pvt. Ltd. has appointed Dharmendra R. S. as Chief Operating Officer (COO) of Icon Hotels, marking a strategic leadership move as the group accelerates its ambitious expansion across India.
Bringing extensive cross-sector experience spanning hospitality, sales, marketing, retail, entertainment, and restobar operations, Dharmendra steps into this role at a pivotal time for the organization. Icon Hotels is currently scaling its footprint with a vision to build a portfolio of 100+ hotels under management contracts, catering to diverse segments within the hospitality ecosystem.
His appointment aligns with a period of strong growth in India’s tourism and hospitality sector, with increasing demand across metros, Tier 2 cities, and spiritual tourism hubs. Icon Hotels is strategically positioned to capitalize on this momentum, while also preparing to enter the luxury hospitality segment over the next five years to cater to evolving consumer preferences.
In his new role, Dharmendra will be responsible for driving operational excellence, strengthening business frameworks, and steering the group’s expansion roadmap across geographies and formats. He will also play a key role in enhancing customer experience, optimizing performance, and building scalable systems to support long-term growth.
Beyond hotels, Bhagini Hospitalities continues to expand its food and beverage portfolio, with brands such as Proxy Bar, Andhra Grand, Telugu Bilas, and Kalpaney gaining strong traction. The group is also planning new concept launches, including premium dining formats and experiential bar concepts, further diversifying its lifestyle offerings.
An established industry voice, Dharmendra is actively involved in leading hospitality forums and has represented the Bengaluru hospitality ecosystem at platforms such as the Food Connoisseurs India Convention, World of Hospitality, and Restaurant India Awards. He currently serves as Senior Vice President of the AHPWI South India Chapter and was recently recognized as a “Best Transformational Hospitality Leader” at the FCIC event in Bengaluru.
His appointment marks a significant step forward for Icon Hotels and Bhagini Hospitalities as they embark on their next phase of high-growth, innovation-led expansion across India’s dynamic hospitality landscape.