Rajesh Kumar Cheriyil Narayanan Recognized in Hozpitality’s Best 30 Engineering Leaders Powerlist in the Middle East for 2025
The Complete Engineering Leader: Where Technical Mastery Meets Sustainable Vision.
With twenty-five years of distinguished engineering leadership spanning the global hospitality industry, Rajesh Kumar Cheriyil Narayanan has been honored in Hozpitality's prestigious Best 30 Engineering Leaders Powerlist for 2025. As Director of Engineering at Millennium Plaza Downtown Dubai, Rajesh represents the gold standard in hospitality engineering - equally adept at managing complex capital projects as he is at inspiring engineering teams to new heights of excellence.
Rajesh's career reads like a masterclass in hospitality infrastructure development. From the pristine beaches of Marriott Seychelles to the urban sophistication of Dubai's Downtown district, he has left an indelible mark on every property he's touched. His crowning achievement at Millennium Plaza Downtown - the flawless renovation of 568 guest rooms and 94 commercial offices without operational disruption - showcases his rare ability to balance large-scale transformations with seamless daily operations.
What truly distinguishes Rajesh is his multidimensional impact. While his sustainability initiatives deliver measurable results (including 5% energy consumption reductions and Green Globe certifications), his people leadership achieves equally impressive metrics, notably the 96% Employee Heartbeat score that reflects his talent for team development. This dual focus on systems and staff creates engineering departments were technical excellence and human potential flourish together.
"Great engineering leadership means seeing the hotel through both an infrared camera and an employee engagement survey," Rajesh observes. This holistic vision explains his success in areas as diverse as CAPEX planning (where his strategies extend asset life by years), ISO compliance programs, and innovative training initiatives that create career pathways for technical staff.
From the mechanical rooms to the boardroom, Rajesh Kumar's recognition celebrates professionals who understand that world-class hospitality engineering encompasses environmental stewardship, financial acumen, and human development in equal measure, proving that behind every great guest experience stands even greater engineering leadership.
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