Anuraag Bhatnagar
Chief Executive Officer
The Leela Palaces Hotels & Resorts
The Leela Palaces Hotels & Resorts
Anuraag Bhatnagar, the Chief Executive Officer at The Leela Palaces, Hotels and Resorts is a dynamic leader with an impeccable track record of over 35 years. He has spearheaded hotels across world-renowned Indian and International brands positioning them as leaders in the market through strategic and inspirational leadership, a passion for operational excellence, and an unwavering focus on delivering highly personalized and memorable guest experiences.
A seasoned hospitality professional, Anuraag is known to leverage his strategic business acumen and interpersonal skills to drive market-leading returns and create stakeholder value. A result–oriented leader, he is adept at building and nurturing high-performance teams guiding and motivating them towards setting and achieving visionary goals by effectively aligning brand values with key business initiatives and thoughtfully curated luxury brand experiences.
Known as the ‘Man with the Midas Touch’ Anuraag is currently responsible for strengthening and elevating The Leela’s positioning as the epitome of true Indian luxury while driving the brand’s future growth. With a global mindset and a keen understanding of the luxury consumer, he is well poised to lead the brand in the next phase of its growth trajectory while catering to the evolving needs and aspirations of the discerning global luxury traveler.
Anuraag spent his early years learning the fine art of being a luxury hotelier with The Oberoi Group of Hotels. He then joined Starwood Hotels and Resorts and subsequently transitioned to Marriott International post the merger of the two companies, where he was the Multi-Property Vice President, Mumbai and Goa, overseeing 12 hotels. Working across brands like St. Regis, W Hotels and The Ritz- Carlton, he honed his skills in delivering curated and crafted luxury hospitality experiences. For him, luxury is all about authenticity, anticipation, innovation and personalization, and teamwork is what makes the magic happen.
Anuraag is one of the most felicitated and awarded hoteliers in India, recognized as the ‘Hotelier of the Year’ by Vir Sanghvi at the EazyDiner Awards 2017, by Chef Sanjeev Kapoor at the Food Food India Awards 2018, as well as the prestigious new category award, ‘COO/VP of the Year – International’ by Hotelier India Awards 2017.
A prolific orator, Anuraag regularly contributes his personal and professional time to speak at Academic Institutions and industry forums and is on the board of BW Hotelier and Hotelier India magazine.
Anuraag is an alumnus of Delhi University and IHM Pusa. He has also done short Management and Leadership courses from the Indian Institute of Management Bangalore, and the University of North Carolina.
Anuraag is an avid whisky and food enthusiast. His fitness regime is a newfound joy. He enjoys his leisure time watching movies, listening to music and relaxing with some reading. He is an active trekker and will seek out new destinations to travel and climb. A family man, he enjoys spending time with his wife, son and their 2 dogs.
Known as the ‘Man with the Midas Touch’ Anuraag is currently responsible for strengthening and elevating The Leela’s positioning as the epitome of true Indian luxury while driving the brand’s future growth. With a global mindset and a keen understanding of the luxury consumer, he is well poised to lead the brand in the next phase of its growth trajectory while catering to the evolving needs and aspirations of the discerning global luxury traveler.
Anuraag spent his early years learning the fine art of being a luxury hotelier with The Oberoi Group of Hotels. He then joined Starwood Hotels and Resorts and subsequently transitioned to Marriott International post the merger of the two companies, where he was the Multi-Property Vice President, Mumbai and Goa, overseeing 12 hotels. Working across brands like St. Regis, W Hotels and The Ritz- Carlton, he honed his skills in delivering curated and crafted luxury hospitality experiences. For him, luxury is all about authenticity, anticipation, innovation and personalization, and teamwork is what makes the magic happen.
Anuraag is one of the most felicitated and awarded hoteliers in India, recognized as the ‘Hotelier of the Year’ by Vir Sanghvi at the EazyDiner Awards 2017, by Chef Sanjeev Kapoor at the Food Food India Awards 2018, as well as the prestigious new category award, ‘COO/VP of the Year – International’ by Hotelier India Awards 2017.
A prolific orator, Anuraag regularly contributes his personal and professional time to speak at Academic Institutions and industry forums and is on the board of BW Hotelier and Hotelier India magazine.
Anuraag is an alumnus of Delhi University and IHM Pusa. He has also done short Management and Leadership courses from the Indian Institute of Management Bangalore, and the University of North Carolina.
Anuraag is an avid whisky and food enthusiast. His fitness regime is a newfound joy. He enjoys his leisure time watching movies, listening to music and relaxing with some reading. He is an active trekker and will seek out new destinations to travel and climb. A family man, he enjoys spending time with his wife, son and their 2 dogs.