Written by Anjali Mahra is a seasoned hospitality brand marketing & communications professional with over 3 decades of experience. A brand evangelist, a passionate storyteller and a strategic communicator, with major hotel brands where she has successfully launched & repositioned brands in new, challenging & highly competitive markets. She has nurtured strong media relations with a good understanding of the media landscape across geographies. She is currently Vice President Marketing for The Leela Palaces Hotels and Resorts.
Anjali started in aviation and moved to hotels. She has worked with well known brands including Taj Hotels, Marriott, Starwood and Hilton. Spearheaded the Marketing & Communications strategies for Starwood in India, Maldives, Bangladesh, Sri Lanka, Nepal & Bhutan & played a key role in launching Westin, Four Points by Sheraton & Aloft brands in India .She has led the strategies for Le Meridien brand entry into Bhutan & Bangladesh, repositioned the Le Meridien & Sheraton brands & paved the way for the launch of St. Regis & W Hotels. Was instrumental in raising the company profile, driving growth & positioning it as a key industry player, winning coveted industry awards & accolades as an “Employer of Choice” & “Great Place to Work”.
Post the Starwood merger with Marriott International, led the communications strategies for Middle East and Africa for Marriott International and it’s portfolio of over 260 operating hotels across 23 brands in 29 countries simultaneously opening new hotels, launching news brands in new markets, activating brands and managing the reputation during the pandemic.
Currently 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 and provide strategic counsel to the senior executive leadership team of the company.
During the pandemic: Navigated the communication strategies for Marriott International in Middle East and Africa initially and later The Leela Palaces Hotels and Resorts in India through out the pandemic, protecting reputation and building the company profile as a company that truly cares, for its associates, for its guests and the communities in which we operate, keeping safety at the center of everything we do.
Anjali shared that her vision is: Marketing and Communications will continue to play a key role in defining and building brands equity. More and more CEO’s are realizing the importance of this role and it will form an integral part of the C Suite.
About Power 25 Marketing & PR 2021
Hoteliers Web announced their Power 25 Marketing & PR leaders list from Asia, Middle East and Africa in a virtual live event on 26th September 2021.
It has been an incredibly tough ride and COVID-19 has truly put our community to the test as we work together to combat the effects of this global pandemic. In these challenging times, we would like to express our heartfelt gratitude, support and solidarity with our Marketing leaders, and their loved ones.
Over 85 shortlisted nominations raced to make it to the Power 25 List of Marketing. The event was presented by Pooja Rajpurohit & Biljana Jovanovic for Hoteliers Web. Also joined by some industry experts, it sure raised the bar for the hotelier fraternity. We take this opportunity to thank Sandeep Walia, Chief Operating Officer – Middle East for Marriott International, Mehul Sharma, Founder & CEO for Signum Hotels and Resorts Pvt Ltd, Vineet Mishra, Complex General Manager for Pullman and Novotel New Delhi Aerocity, Rahul Puri, Multi Property General Manager for The Westin Gurgaon, New Delhi & The Westin Sohna Resort and Spa, Sunil Kumar, General Manager for The Westin Goa & Rachana Bahl, Director Global & IMEA Luxury Brands for InterContinental Hotels Group for delivering their motivational messages to the Marketing talents in the race.
“The virtual event and this power list is one of hotel industry’s first, and at Hoteliers Web we believe it’s a great beginning. We are extremely proud to be the first in bringing recognition to unsung heroes of hotel industry.” Said Rama Torgalkar, Co-Founder at Hoteliers Web.
We are extremely proud of and grateful to our Marketing talents for being a pillar of strength, by helping us take significant steps to safeguard and support the business recovery. Also, they have partnered so well by constantly supporting, guiding and leading the industry’s recovery process. Thank you for what you have done already to weather this crisis. The commitment of these stalwarts really makes all the difference to everyone in Hotel Industry.
The jury looked at the most influential leaders from these regions who have contributed to not just their hotel units and worked largely for the fraternities and Regions. “The ability to bring change for our teams, the hotel and the region, was very important to us during this unprecedented time. This recognition will certainly add fuel in taking the marketing functions to the next level.” Said Snehal Dobarkar, Co-Founder at Hoteliers Web.
These top 32 leaders have played a major role in shaping the industry’s new marketing strategies and steered through this pandemic in great success. We also recognised 25 more leaders in our Rising stars as an addition to the Power 25 series.
Here is the link to our live event for those who missed:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ytz4xABam5Y