It has been three years since The Leela Palaces, Hotels and Resorts launched the Leela Leadership Development Programme (LLDP). The hotel chain celebrated the gruaduating Class of 2024 recently at The Leela Palace, New Delhi. Having completed the 15-month long LLDP programme, the 27 management trainees are now ready to commence duty as assistant managers. A good 52 per cent of these trainees are women! The course is designed to identify and groom the finest talent in the hospitality industry, shaping them into the luxury leaders of tomorrow.
The programme features a world-class curriculum tailored to the hospitality industry’s needs and luxury consumer expectations. The curriculum covers functional training, knowledge acquisition, skill development and behavioural aspects through a blend of classroom sessions and on-the-job training with global hospitality competencies.
This tailored management-training programme has been developed in partnership with the Indian School of Hospitality (ISH) in alliance with Les Roches.
According to Isha Goyal, senior vice president and head-human resources,The Leela Palaces, Hotels and Resorts, “This initiative aligns perfectly with our broader employee-acquisition and retention strategy.” Goyal explained, “By investing in our employees’ development, we ensure that we not only attract top talent from the industry but also retain it by providing clear, progressive career paths.”
The Leela recognises that “nurturing talent and leadership is pivotal to maintaining our position at the forefront of luxury hospitality,” said Anuraag Bhatnagar, chief executive officer, The Leela Palaces, Hotels and Resorts, at the event. He also stated, “These young leaders now join us as assistant managers, ready to contribute significantly as they carry forward our rich legacy guided by our ethos—Atithi Devo Bhava.”
The event was attended by notable dignitaries, including Shri Amitabh Kant – G20 Sherpa India, who delivered the keynote address, Amaan and Ayaan Ali Bangash, Icons of India by The Leela and other industry stalwarts, as well as the parents of the graduates.
The progress of these LLDP graduates symbolises the transformative impact of LLDP, reinforcing The Leela’s commitment to developing top-tier talent internally.
To qualify for the LLDP, candidates must possess a bachelor’s degree in hospitality, a year of experience in a luxury hotel, excellent communication skills and demonstrable leadership potential. Once they complete the course, they are fast-tracked into managerial roles, with a clear pathway to becoming general managers or taking on other senior positions within 12-13 years.
Applications for the next batch, LLDP Class of 2026, are now open. Both internal and external candidates, who meet the criteria, may apply. Those interested may log on to https://www.theleela.com/careers for more details.
Headquartered in Mumbai, The Leela Palaces, Hotels and Resorts is owned by a Brookfield Asset Management-sponsored private real-estate fund and operates twelve properties in major cities and leisure destinations across India.
