‘I am Leela’

Preeti Makhija Jul 03, 2020

Indian hospitality industry has earned distinctive recognition globally for its essence and the culture it is based on. When we were ‘hoteliers -in - making’ we were taught to always have strong belief in ourselves first, keeping in mind that there will be unannounced challenging situations that we may encounter at any given point in time. The belief in my capabilities and the passion for my work was well recognized by The Leela Group. Understanding the demand and requirements of the clientele that the hotel welcomes and considering my core strengths, my current job role was developed, which caters to VIP guests and women travelers.

JOURNEY

With a career that spans over ten years, I still feel there is a long road ahead of me, of learning and servicing. This truly defines the passion with which I walk into The Leela Palace New Delhi each day. I joined this hotel as a Duty Manager in the pre-opening team, took different roles throughout my journey and currently working as the VIP Guest Relations Manager.

The Leela Palace New Delhi is a preferred destination for tourists globally and especially among the women travelers from Middle East countries. It gives me immense privilege and a sense of responsibility to be the one point of contact for them and tailor their stay experience as per their preferences and with our expertise.

CURATING UNIQUE EXPERIENCES

The competitive market, dynamic and ever-changing ecosystem and travelers who are looking for more of a holistic experience are some of the key challenging drivers. To substantiate further, with India being the new center of travel for the emerging East and developed West, in both leisure and business tourism and with the rise in the concept of solo and women-only group travel, not only the demand varies, the method of servicing and curating unique stay experiences also differs.

It, therefore, becomes extremely vital for me to understand the different cultures, the overall market and individual sentiments and align them perfectly with the unparalleled luxury and heartfelt services that we have to offer at our palace.

While India is a price-sensitive market with stiff competition, it holds immense potential to elevate business opportunities and strengthen the scope of guest loyalty and build relationships. I pay keen attention to ensure that there is a seamless flow of services to our discerning patrons by our team members of various concerned departments.

FRIENDLY & SUPPORTIVE ENVIRONMENT

Our work philosophy is inspired by the belief of Atithi Devo Bhava which means Guest is God. This principle is guided by the eight Leela dharmas which revolve around service excellence, commitment and team spirit that is instilled in each employee at Leela and we take pride in upholding this tradition to ensure that we handcraft memorable experiences for each guest.

These dharmas have helped me structure and balance both my professional and personal life. I have been through many different phases of life while working here and one of the most striking and beautiful one was motherhood. While maternity can be difficult for working women, it was one of the smoothest transitions for me. There is a dire need to understand that it is of utmost importance to be considerate and create a friendly and supportive environment at workplace for women. It is the responsibility of not just the organization but of the coworkers as well to be humble and kind to one another.

RISE WITH SELF-BELIEF

I have always believed in following my dreams, working to the best of my abilities, understanding the areas I need to work on and constantly challenge myself and bring about my best version. Over the years I have realized this is what exactly each of one of us need to do especially women, as they are the ones who are taught to condition themselves as per the demand of various external factors.

The biggest lesson I have learned is to push back the adversities and rise with self-belief and confidence. Today, I switch into multiple roles within 24 hours from being a mother to wearing the hat of a responsible hotelier and many others in between. It is never easy, but I do take pride in saying that I have made it smooth for myself and this would not have been possible without the extensive support and warmth that I have always received at The Leela Palace New Delhi.