Himalayan Hideaway Resort Pokhara, part of The Centara Collection, has announced the appointment of seasoned hospitality professional Samjhana Prasai as its new Associate Director of Sales. With a career spanning more than 13 years across some of Nepal’s most prestigious hotels and resorts, Prasai’s appointment marks a significant step in the resort’s commercial growth strategy as it continues to strengthen its foothold in Nepal’s competitive tourism and hospitality sector.
A Career Built on Excellence and Dedication
Samjhana Prasai’s journey in Nepal’s hospitality industry is one defined by consistent growth, resilience, and a genuine passion for people. She began her career as a Sales Executive at Godawari Village Resort, one of Kathmandu Valley’s well-regarded heritage properties, where she laid the foundational skills that would shape her professional trajectory. It was here that she first developed her core competencies in client servicing, account management, and building lasting relationships with corporate and leisure clients.
From Godawari Village Resort, Prasai moved on to Summit Hotel, a well-established property in Kathmandu, where she took on greater sales responsibilities and began expanding her understanding of Nepal’s diverse hospitality market. Her time at Summit Hotel allowed her to deepen her expertise in revenue generation and corporate account management, working closely with both domestic businesses and international travel agents.
Rising Through Nepal’s Top Hotel Brands
Her career trajectory continued upward when she joined The Everest Hotel Kathmandu, one of the capital’s most iconic five-star properties. At The Everest Hotel, Prasai served as Sales Manager, a role in which she was responsible for driving corporate business, managing key accounts, and developing strategic partnerships with leading companies and travel trade partners. This position significantly broadened her exposure to large-scale event management, group travel coordination, and the nuanced demands of high-end corporate clientele.
Prasai’s most recent role before joining Himalayan Hideaway Resort was as Senior Sales Manager, Corporate and Events at Dusit Thani Himalayan Resort Dhulikhel, a luxury international brand property nestled in the hills east of Kathmandu. At Dusit Thani, she took on one of her most challenging and rewarding roles, overseeing a portfolio that spanned corporate sales, MICE (Meetings, Incentives, Conferences, and Events) business, and high-value event contracts. Her time with Dusit Thani gave her exposure to internationally benchmarked hospitality standards and the operational sophistication demanded by a globally recognised hotel brand.
Expertise Across Sales, MICE, and Business Development
Across her 13-plus-year career, Prasai has cultivated a rare combination of skills that spans both the creative and strategic dimensions of hospitality sales. Her expertise includes revenue generation, corporate partnership development, business development planning, group travel management, and client relationship management at both national and international levels.
Her strong background in the MICE business is particularly notable. The ability to conceptualise, pitch, and execute large-scale meetings, corporate incentive programmes, conferences, and events requires not only sales acumen but also exceptional coordination skills, attention to detail, and the ability to deliver customised experiences under pressure. Prasai has demonstrated these capabilities repeatedly throughout her career, earning her a reputation as a dependable and results-driven professional within Nepal’s hospitality community.
Her work across leisure travel and corporate segments means she brings a well-rounded perspective to the Associate Director of Sales role, one that will prove valuable as Himalayan Hideaway Resort Pokhara seeks to attract a diverse mix of guests, from wellness travellers and honeymooners to corporate retreats and international delegations.
The Human Heart of Hospitality
Despite her impressive professional credentials, what sets Prasai apart in the eyes of colleagues and clients alike is her deeply human approach to the hospitality business, reflecting on what has kept her motivated through over a decade in the industry. “It is the people. Every guest carries a different story, a different world. Seeing that smile, the moment a guest feels truly at home, is what makes everything worthwhile. The privilege of interacting with professionals from so many different industries keeps me learning every single day.”
This philosophy speaks to a hospitality professional who views her work not merely as a commercial exercise, but as a meaningful exchange between people, a perspective that resonates deeply with the ethos of The Himalayan Hideaway Resort, Centara Collection, which emphasises personalised, culturally enriching guest experiences.
Beyond her professional life, Prasai is recognised as a working mother of two, balancing the demands of a senior leadership role with personal responsibilities. Her colleagues describe her as dedicated, collaborative, and an inspiring figure for younger professionals in Nepal’s hospitality industry.
A Strategic Appointment in Himalayan Hideaway Resort
The management team at Himalayan Hideaway Resort Pokhara expressed strong confidence in Prasai’s ability to contribute meaningfully to the property’s commercial ambitions. Her appointment in the Himalayan Hideaway Resort is expected to accelerate the resort’s outreach to domestic and international corporate clients, travel agents, and the MICE segment, while also reinforcing its position as a premier luxury destination in the Pokhara region.
About Himalayan Hideaway Resort Pokhara
Himalayan Hideaway Resort Pokhara, part of The Centara Collection, is a secluded mountain retreat located in Kaskikot, approximately 35 minutes from the lakeside city of Pokhara. Perched with sweeping views of the Annapurna mountain range and the iconic Machhapuchhre (Fishtail Mountain), the resort features 42 rooms, suites, and villas that seamlessly blend contemporary comfort with authentic Nepali design elements and the warm Thai-inspired hospitality that defines the Centara brand.
Guests can immerse themselves in the surrounding natural and cultural landscape through guided village walks and scenic hikes, or rejuvenate at the Cense by Cenvaree Spa in the Himalayan Hideaway Resort. Four distinct dining venues offer a carefully curated blend of Nepali and international cuisine, rounding out an experience that combines nature, culture, wellness, and personalised service.
