The Westin Pune Koregaon Park Appoints Gopakumar G. Pillai as Director of Engineering

With over 25 years of global experience across hospitality, infrastructure and property operations, Gopakumar G. Pillai has been appointed Director of Engineering at The Westin Pune Koregaon Park, part of Marriott International.

A seasoned engineering and facility management leader, Pillai is widely recognised for his expertise in hotel pre-openings, technical services leadership, preventive and predictive maintenance, sustainability programmes and energy conservation. Over the years, he has been entrusted with leading engineering operations for several flagship hotels under renowned global brands including Marriott, IHG and Accor, across India and the Middle East.

In his current role, Gopakumar Pillai will oversee the complete engineering and technical operations of the hotel’s 277 rooms, four restaurants and 11 event venues spanning over 24,500 sq. ft. His responsibilities include driving operational efficiency through robust maintenance systems, spearheading renovations, strengthening sustainability initiatives, managing statutory compliance and ensuring adherence to Marriott International’s safety and technical standards.

Prior to this appointment, Pillai served as Director of Engineering / Chief Engineer (Task Force) with Marriott International Hotels, leading multi-property engineering operations across Jaipur, Nagpur, Faridabad and Ahmedabad. He has also held senior leadership roles such as Cluster Director of Engineering for the St. Regis, Sheraton and Four Points hotels in Kuwait, overseeing a large luxury hospitality complex of over 700 rooms, and Chief Engineer at Mövenpick Hotel Tahlia Jeddah.

Among his key achievements are the successful pre-opening of six international hotels, securing Green Globe, Green Keys and ISO 14001:2015 certifications, and contributing to award-winning teams recognised at the World Luxury Hotel Awards. He has also played a pivotal role in FSMS and HACCP compliance audits across multiple international markets.

“I am pleased to join The Westin Pune Koregaon Park and be part of a team that values excellence and sustainability. Engineering today is about building efficient, reliable systems that enhance guest experience while being environmentally responsible. I look forward to working closely with the team to strengthen operations and uphold Marriott International’s high standards.”

Gopakumar G. Pillai

Gopakumar Pillai holds an Executive MBA in Power Management, a Bachelor’s degree in Electrical Engineering, and diplomas in Hotel Management and Electrical Engineering Technology. He is also a Certified Professional Engineer (PE) accredited by the Engineering Council of India.

With his deep technical expertise, sustainability-led approach and strong leadership credentials, Gopakumar G. Pillai’s appointment is set to further strengthen operational excellence and elevate guest experience at The Westin Pune Koregaon Park.