SAMHI Appoints Priyanka Ahluwalia as Cluster General Manager for Holiday Inn Express Portfolio in India

Senior Hospitality Leader to Oversee 12 Hotels from January 2026

SAMHI Hotels has announced the appointment of Priyanka Ahluwalia as Cluster General Manager for its Holiday Inn Express (HIEX) portfolio in India, effective January 2026. In her new role, she will oversee operations across 12 Holiday Inn Express hotels owned by SAMHI, with a focus on operational excellence, guest experience, and portfolio-wide performance consistency.

The appointment comes at a pivotal stage as SAMHI continues to scale its Holiday Inn Express footprint and sharpen its operational capabilities across key markets.

A Hospitality Leader with Over 25 Years of Experience

Career Background

Priyanka Ahluwalia brings more than 25 years of hospitality experience, spanning hotels, tourism boards, and golf resorts. Her career includes senior leadership roles across sales, marketing, operations, and revenue strategy, with professional exposure across India, Afghanistan, and the Middle East.

She holds an Executive MBA from Venkateshwara Open University and is widely recognised for building strong teams, exceeding business targets, and driving performance across multi-location portfolios.

Strong Tenure at The LaLiT Suri Hospitality Group

Key Achievements

Before joining SAMHI, Priyanka spent 12 years with The LaLiT Suri Hospitality Group, most recently serving as General Manager – Sales & Operations. In this role, she managed a diverse portfolio across India and the United Kingdom, with revenue responsibility for over 2,200 rooms. She worked closely with unit leadership teams to enhance service standards, streamline operations, and strengthen overall hotel performance.

Leadership Perspective

Commenting on the appointment, Ashish Jakhanwala, Chairman, Managing Director & CEO, SAMHI Hotels, said that Priyanka’s leadership comes at a defining moment for the company as it continues to expand its Holiday Inn Express portfolio. He expressed confidence that her experience and operational focus will help strengthen the portfolio and deliver consistent guest experiences.

Focus on SOPs, People-First Culture, and Smart Hospitality

Current Role & Responsibilities

Known for her collaborative and people-centric leadership style, Priyanka brings deep expertise in standard operating procedures (SOPs), owner relationship management, and cross-functional alignment. Her mandate includes refining service delivery, strengthening operational frameworks, and ensuring smart, efficient hospitality aligned with guest expectations.

Speaking on her appointment, Priyanka said she is delighted to join SAMHI and lead the Holiday Inn Express portfolio. She added that her approach is anchored in operational excellence through a people-first lens and that she looks forward to working closely with teams across all 12 hotels to deliver hospitality that resonates emotionally with guests.

Strengthening Leadership Across SAMHI’s HIEX Portfolio

With this appointment, SAMHI reinforces its commitment to strong leadership, scalable operations, and consistent guest experience across its Holiday Inn Express hotels—aligned with IHG’s “Room to Belong” ethos of inclusive and empowering workplace culture.