The Leela Ambience Convention Hotel Delhi has promoted Vijaya Rai, Deepika Pandita and Shipra Upreti to senior leadership positions, as part of its strategy to strengthen teams and reinforce its luxury convention brand, the hotel said Friday.
Deepika Pandita has been named Director – Human Resources. She brings nearly 20 years of cross‑industry experience and most recently served as Associate Director, HR at the hotel. Her past roles include assignments at Hyatt, Hilton and Trident, as well as in fintech and real estate. She said, “This elevation is a chance to shape a high‑performance, inclusive, and purpose‑driven culture.”
Vijaya Rai has been promoted to Director – Learning & Development. She joined the property in 2018 and took leadership of L&D in 2021. Rai has shaped programs including The Leela Leadership Development Programme. “This promotion is very special to me. It’s not just a new title—it’s a reflection of the trust the organisation and our leaders have placed in me. I remain committed to creating spaces where learning feels exciting, purposeful, and personal, so every team member feels empowered to grow and shine.” she said.
Shipra Upreti will serve as Front Office Manager. She previously led the Royal Club team and has upheld the brand’s luxury ethos. Upreti said, “This promotion is both a personal milestone and a professional validation of the dedication I’ve poured into this journey. It motivates me to lead with greater purpose and contribute more meaningfully to the guest experience and team development. There’s a lot in the pipeline, and I’m excited to execute our new vision for front-of-house excellence.”
General Manager Harkaran Singh commented, “These well‑deserved promotions reflect our commitment to recognising individuals who embody our brand values and lead with vision, integrity, and passion. Vijaya, Shipra, and Deepika have made lasting contributions to their respective domains, and I have no doubt they will continue to strengthen our culture of excellence.”
The appointments span three critical hotel functions. Pandita will oversee talent acquisition and employee engagement; Rai will guide staff learning, mentoring and leadership; Upreti will lead guest-facing operations and arrival experience.
The 480-room hotel includes India’s largest pillarless ballroom and 70,000 square feet of event space. It caters to weddings, conventions and business gatherings. Located near Old Delhi, Noida and Ghaziabad, the property rebranded in December 2024 after becoming part of The Leela group .
Analysts say enhancing leadership in human resources, training and front office operations is key in the luxury convention segment, where staff performance and guest satisfaction closely influence occupancy and event bookings.
The promotions follow a wave of strategic leadership updates aimed at reinforcing service quality, operational strength and team development as competition intensifies in India’s convention hotel sector.
