The Leela Marks Graduation of Leadership Programme Class of 2025

40 young leaders step into their new roles as Assistant Managers across The Leela portfolio, with women making up over 40% of the graduating batch.

New Delhi,India: The Leela Palaces, Hotels and Resorts proudly celebrated the graduation of the Class of 2025 of its prestigious Leela Leadership Development Programme (LLDP) at a grand ceremony hosted at The Leela Palace New Delhi. This momentous occasion marked the culmination of an intensive 15-month journey for 40 management trainees, now appointed as Assistant Managers across The Leela.

The event was graced by distinguished guests including Amitabh Kant, Ex-Sherpa G20, India and Former CEO, NITI Aayog, as Guest of Honour, alongside Manish Malhotra, India’s leading Fashion Designer, Couturier, Entrepreneur and Filmmaker; Dipak Deva, Managing Director, Travel Corporation India Ltd. (TCI); Mukesh Butani, Co-founder, BMR Legal & Independent Director, The Leela Palaces, Hotels and Resorts; and Ms. Louise Kennedy, International Fashion Designer based in London and Dublin. Proud family members of the graduates joined industry stalwarts and senior leaders of The Leela to honour the new cohort of luxury leaders.

Launched in May 2022 in partnership with the Indian School of Hospitality (ISH) in alliance with Les Roches, Leela Leadership Development Programme is a world-class management training programme designed to identify, nurture, and fast-track the finest talent in hospitality into senior leadership roles. The curriculum blends functional expertise, leadership development, and luxury consumer insights through immersive classroom sessions, cross-functional exposure and on-the-job training, all anchored in Atithi Devo Bhava-Guest is God, The Leela’s guiding ethos.

“At The Leela, we believe that people are our greatest asset, and the Leela Leadership Development Programme is where we shape the leaders who will define the future of luxury hospitality. Talent is the cornerstone of our leadership in this industry, and investing in that talent is both a responsibility and a privilege. This career-defining journey blends global best practices with the soul of Indian hospitality, building a leadership pipeline that is diverse, future-ready and deeply rooted in our ethos. We are incredibly proud of the Class of 2025 and look forward to seeing them make their mark as they carry forward The Leela’s rich legacy.” – Anuraag Bhatnagar, Chief Executive Officer, The Leela Palaces, Hotels and Resorts.

Diversity continues to be a defining strength of the programme, with over 40% of the graduating batch being women and participants representing varied academic backgrounds and specialisations. The Class of 2025 brings together graduates across Rooms, Food & Beverage, Sales & Marketing, Human Resources, and Culinary streams, reflecting the depth and breadth of leadership talent being cultivated.

Isha Goyal, Senior Vice President & Head – Human Resources, added: “The Leela Leadership Development Programme is a strategic talent initiative that enables us to build a robust leadership pipeline internally, ensuring we have the right people in the right roles at the right time. By providing a clear and accelerated career pathway, we are not only attracting top talent from the industry but also ensuring their long-term growth within The Leela.”

The Leela Leadership Development Programme has quickly earned a reputation as one of the most coveted management training programmes in Indian hospitality, with graduates fast-tracked to managerial roles and a clear trajectory toward General Manager and senior leadership positions within 12–13 years.

Applications for the Class of 2027 will soon open, welcoming both internal and external candidates with a bachelor’s degree in hospitality, at least one year’s experience in a luxury hotel, excellent communication skills, and demonstrated leadership potential to embark on this transformative career journey with The Leela.