SAMHI Hotels has announced the appointment of Arpita Roy as Portfolio Director – Human Resources for its Holiday Inn Express portfolio in India. In this role, she will lead the HR function across 12 Holiday Inn Express hotels owned by SAMHI.
The appointment strengthens the company’s people leadership as it continues to scale operations and focus on building a consistent, performance-driven workplace culture across its growing portfolio.
This leadership addition aligns with SAMHI’s growth ambitions, reflecting leadership appointments in hospitality.Driving People Strategy Across a Multi-Hotel Portfolio
In her new role, Arpita Roy will oversee the human resources function across all 12 Holiday Inn Express properties under SAMHI. Her responsibilities include leading HR strategy, strengthening employee engagement, and aligning people practices with business goals.
She will work closely with leadership teams across locations to ensure consistency in HR processes, talent development, and organisational culture.
Managing HR across multiple properties requires a structured approach to systems, communication, and execution, making this role critical to operational success.
18 Years of Experience in Hospitality and Entertainment
Arpita Roy brings over 18 years of experience across the hospitality and entertainment sectors. Her expertise spans employee engagement, organisational development, HR strategy, and workplace culture.
Throughout her career, she has focused on building strong people frameworks, improving employee experience, and implementing effective HR systems that support business performance.
Her experience across both hospitality and entertainment environments adds depth to her understanding of diverse workforce dynamics.
Career Across Global Hospitality Brands
Prior to joining SAMHI, Arpita Roy served as Human Resources Manager – PAN India at Encalm Hospitality, where she managed HR functions across multiple locations.
Her role involved implementing HR policies, driving employee engagement initiatives, and strengthening HR processes across the organisation.
She has also worked with leading global brands including Hyatt, Carlson Rezidor Hotel Group, Starwood Hotels & Resorts, and Merlin Entertainments.
This diverse exposure has provided her with a strong foundation in managing HR across different organisational structures and market segments.
Focus on Culture, Engagement and Systems
A key aspect of Arpita Roy’s role will be strengthening workplace culture across the Holiday Inn Express portfolio. Her approach focuses on improving employee engagement, fostering collaboration, and building high-performance teams.
She will also work on enhancing HR systems and processes to ensure efficiency and consistency across properties.
Strong HR practices are essential for maintaining service standards in hospitality, where employee experience directly impacts guest satisfaction.
Strengthening HR Framework as Portfolio Expands
The appointment comes at a time when SAMHI continues to expand its hotel portfolio. As operations scale, the need for structured HR frameworks becomes increasingly important.
Arpita Roy’s role will be central to ensuring that people practices evolve in line with business growth.
Her experience in multi-location HR management supports this objective.
Leadership Perspective
Commenting on the appointment, Priyanka Ahluwalia, Cluster General Manager, said,
“We are delighted to welcome Arpita to the Holiday Inn Express portfolio. Her extensive experience and people-centric approach will play a pivotal role in strengthening our HR framework across all properties. As we continue to grow, building a strong, inclusive and high-performance culture remains a key priority, and we are confident that her leadership will further enhance employee engagement and organisational excellence across the portfolio.”
Statement from Arpita Roy
Commenting on her appointment, Arpita Roy said,
“I am delighted to take on this new role and look forward to working closely with the team to further strengthen people practices across the portfolio. With a strong focus on collaboration, employee engagement, and effective HR strategies, my aim is to build a high-performance culture while delivering meaningful employee experiences.”
Aligning HR with Business Growth
As hospitality companies expand, HR leadership plays a strategic role in supporting business performance. The focus is not only on recruitment but also on retention, engagement, and organisational alignment.
Arpita Roy’s experience positions her to contribute to these priorities.
Building a Consistent Employee Experience
With multiple properties under the portfolio, ensuring a consistent employee experience becomes critical. Standardised HR practices help maintain service quality and operational efficiency.
Her role will focus on achieving this consistency while allowing flexibility across locations.
Supporting Long-Term Organisational Development
The appointment reflects SAMHI’s focus on long-term organisational development. By strengthening HR leadership, the company aims to build a sustainable and high-performing workforce.
Arpita Roy is expected to play a key role in shaping this journey.
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