Chanuka Kasthuri

Food and Beverage Manager @Belmond

Santa Barbara, CA, US

At El Encanto, I play a hands-on leadership role in delivering elevated guest experiences in a Forbes Five-Star environment. As a Food and Beverage Manager, I support daily operations across restaurant, bar, and poolside service, ensuring smooth coordination between front-of-house teams and culinary staff with no Food and Beverage director, running the department solo. Key Responsibilities & Achievements: • Supervise dining operations for breakfast, lunch, dinner, and poolside service, upholding Belmond’s luxury service standards • Lead and train a multicultural team to provide intuitive, guest-focused hospitality • Manage guest relations, VIP service, and special requests with precision and warmth • Collaborated with the culinary team on enhancing the pool menu, incorporating fresh California coastal ingredients and refining presentation for an elevated casual dining experience • Maintain close attention to detail in service execution, upselling, and revenue growth strategies • Assist in event execution and logistics for weddings, private functions, and exclusive resort happenings