The Leela Palaces, Hotels and Resorts further strengthens its leadership team with the appointment of Anjali Mehra as Vice President Marketing

The Leela Palaces, Hotels and Resorts is further strengthening its leadership team with the appointment of Anjali Mehra as Vice President Marketing. A passionate storyteller and a brand evangelist, Anjali brings with her over two decades of rich and varied experience in hospitality Brand Marketing and Communications. 

An accomplished and well-respected industry stalwart, she started her career in aviation where she held key leadership positions before finding her true calling in hotels. She spearheaded the Marketing and Communications strategies for Starwood Hotels and its brands in India, Maldives, Bangladesh, Sri Lanka, Nepal and Bhutan from 2009 to 2015. She then moved to Dubai as Regional Director Communications, Africa, from 2015-2017, where she was tasked with defining and executing communication strategies for Starwood Hotels in some very dynamic markets across Africa & Indian Ocean. 

Prior to joining The Leela, Anjali was the Senior Director Communications Middle East and Africa, Marriott International, a role she assumed post the merger of Starwood Hotels with Marriott International. She has also worked with other well-known hospitality brands including Hilton and Taj Hotels.

Through creative storytelling, strategic brand communications and high impact activations, Anjali has helped launch, differentiate, and position brands especially in new and emerging markets. Articulating messaging for diverse audiences, both internal and external is her forte. She has honed her skills in crisis communications and reputation management with her experience of working across some very volatile markets. Over the years, she has gained keen insights into the media landscape and nurtured strong media and influencer relationships across key media markets globally. Having worked across geographies on several luxury brands, she has a good understanding of today’s evolving luxury hospitality landscape and the needs of the discerning traveler. 

“I am delighted to welcome Anjali as a key member of my leadership team,” said Anuraag Bhatnagar Chief Operating Officer, The Leela Palaces, Hotels and Resorts.”  “Anjali brings with her exceptional domain expertise as well as regional insights that will enable us to create and implement innovative strategies that will further elevate and enhance the positioning of the brand, steering us into the next phase of our growth and success.”

In her role, Anjali will provide strategic counsel to the company’s senior executive leadership team and be responsible for developing and implementing a comprehensive and integrated Marketing and Communication roadmap and an ongoing strategy to strengthen the positioning of The Leela brand as an embodiment of true Indian luxury. 

Anjali is a Postgraduate in English Literature from Delhi University and holds a Post Graduate Diploma in Journalism and Mass Communication as well as a Business Management Degree with specialization in Marketing. 

She has been an Executive Board Member of Middle East Public Relations Association (MEPRA) and a jury member for the MEPRA Awards. Passionate about nurturing talent she has actively mentored both aspiring female leaders as well as helped luxury General Managers hone their skills in personal branding. 

Anjali enjoys travelling and exploring new cultures, is an avid reader, loves writing and trend watching and calls herself an experimental Instagrammer.

About The Leela Palaces, Hotels and Resorts
Headquartered in Mumbai, The Leela Palaces, Hotels and Resorts is owned by a Brookfield Asset Management-sponsored private real estate fund. The Leela, owns and operates nine award-winning properties in major cities and leisure destinations across India. These include the flagship hotel in the capital city of New Delhi, Bengaluru, Chennai, Udaipur, Jaipur, Gurugram, East Delhi, Goa, and Mumbai. The Leela celebrates each hotel through its unique location, art, culture and cuisine with thoughtful services, celebratory rituals and immersive experiences. The Leela Palaces, Hotels and Resorts was voted the World’s Best Hotel Brand by Travel + Leisure, USA, World’s Best Awards Survey, 2020. The brand is well poised to embrace the next phase in its growth trajectory with upcoming projects which include business hotels in Bengaluru, Hyderabad, and in Gandhinagar, Gujarat. An epitome of true Indian luxury hospitality, The Leela is committed to providing guests with unforgettable stays in settings that capture the essence of India. The brand has a marketing alliance with US-based Preferred Hotels & Resorts and is a member of the Global Hotel Alliance, Geneva, Switzerland.

For more information, please visit our website www.theleela.com