Minor Hotel Group Appoints New CEO and SVP Project Development

Minor Hotel Group has promoted Dillip Rajakarier from Chief Operating Officer to Chief Executive Officer.

Since joining Minor Hotel Group as Chief Financial Officer in March 2007, Dillip Rajakarier has been instrumental in the expansion of the hotel portfolio, namely the addition of luxury tented camps and resorts ‘Elewana Afrika’ in Tanzania and Kenya, the acquisition of Anantara Kihavah Villas in the Maldives, strategic hotel investments in Sri Lanka and the recent launch of the upscale Avani Hotels & Resorts brand.

In 2011 Minor Hotel Group acquired Oaks Hotel Group in Australia, New Zealand and the United Arab Emirates. The investment was spearheaded by Rajakarier and has effectively doubled the Minor Hotel Group portfolio to 73 properties, in addition to providing entry into a new market segment and region.

Rajakarier is tasked with growing the hotel group to 150 hotels within the next 5 years, and expanding the group’s home grown brands Anantara and Avani, in addition to strategic acquisitions across Asia Pacific, the Middle East and the Indian Ocean.

Minor Hotel Group’s expansion also includes the promotion of Ross Crowder to Senior Vice President Project Development.

Since joining Minor in 2007 to take on the newly created role of Vice President Project Development, Crowder has not only led the Technical Services team in numerous Anantara projects and provided leadership to the Hotel Engineering teams, but has also personally completed a number of key projects for the Minor Hotel Group.

Highlights of his achievements include the addition of 20 luxury villas at Anantara Bophut Resort & Spa in Koh Samui, as well as the flagship openings of Anantara Kihavah Villas in the Maldives and the St. Regis Bangkok. Following the success of these projects, and in line with Minor Hotel Group’s rapid development, Crowder is now working on key ventures in Sri Lanka, Mauritius, China and Bali.

William E. Heinecke, Chairman and CEO of Minor International, said, “This year alone our hotels have increased from 36 to 78, accompanied by the launch of the new Avani upscale hotel brand, while Anantara Hotels, Resorts & Spas will be developed from 15 to 50 properties by 2015. These two strategic appointments will greatly impact Minor Hotel Group’s grand expansion plans, and we are confident that seasoned individuals such as Dillip and Ross will continue to drive our business success.”

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