Sofitel Mumbai BKC has appointed Ekta Kanchan as Director of Marketing, handing the luxury hotel’s brand and communications mandate to a marketer whose career began at the same property.
A full-circle return
Kanchan brings more than 13 years of experience across luxury hospitality, food-tech, food and beverage, and alco-bev. Her background spans brand strategy, integrated marketing, communications, digital marketing, partnerships, and experiential campaigns.
She first joined Sofitel Mumbai BKC as a Management Trainee in Sales & Marketing, before moving through marketing and communications roles at The Westin Mumbai Powai Lake and Lakeside Chalet – Marriott Executive Apartments, Marriott International, Hill Zill Wines, Dineout, Times Internet, and Zomato India.
Kanchan holds a Bachelor of Science in Hotel & Hotel Administration from the Institute of Hotel Management, Goa, and a Post-Graduate Diploma in Advertising & Graphic Design from Wigan and Leigh College, India. Her recognitions include the Marriott Elite Award – Property Marketing Leader, APEC 2024.
What the role covers
In the new role, Kanchan will lead marketing and communications for the hotel’s rooms, dining, wellness, celebrations, and business segments. The mandate includes:
- Digital campaigns and social media strategy
- Public relations and brand communications
- Partnerships and influencer collaborations
- Experiential marketing and content development
Why this matters for marketing teams
The appointment is a useful signal for hospitality and consumer marketers. Kanchan’s path combines core brand-building skills with digital and performance marketing experience at platforms such as Zomato and Dineout. That blend is increasingly valuable in luxury hospitality, where brand storytelling must translate into bookings, footfall, and loyalty.
Her quote frames the balance well. “Sofitel has a distinctive ability to bring together French zest and local culture, and Mumbai offers an extraordinary canvas for that story,” she said. “I look forward to working with the team to build meaningful experiences, strengthen the hotel’s connection with the city and create marketing that is as commercially relevant as it is creatively compelling.”
For marketing professionals, this is a case of the full-circle hire: a leader who understands the brand’s heritage, has outside digital experience, and is asked to make marketing both culturally resonant and commercially accountable.
The wider marketing signal
Luxury hotels have moved beyond glossy print ads. Today’s marketing directors are expected to manage always-on digital channels, reputation, partnerships, and data-led campaigns while preserving a premium, culturally rooted brand voice. Kanchan’s experience at food-tech and alco-bev businesses indicates a leader who can operate across brand and performance disciplines.
For teams, the takeaway is to combine craft and commercial discipline: set clear attribution for campaigns, design experiences that earn word of mouth, and keep local relevance at the centre of global brand codes. That is especially true in a market like Mumbai, where dining, wellness and celebration bookings can be just as important as room nights.
Source: Safari India
