Swati Thakur

Hotel Manager

The Leela Palaces, Hotels and Resorts

Swati Thakur is a distinguished hospitality leader with over 18 years of experience in luxury hospitality, specializing in operational excellence, guest experience enhancement, and strategic business growth
Currently, as Hotel Manager at The Leela Palace Jaipur, she has redefined guest experiences, optimized operational efficiencies, and championed sustainability initiatives. Before this, she served as Operations Manager at Taj The Trees, Mumbai, where she was responsible for pre-opening strategies, and accommodation management. She also held the role of Director of Rooms at Taj Lands End, Mumbai, overseeing the entire guest experience and room division management. She began her journey in hospitality at The Oberoi Hotel, Mumbai, where she gained foundational experience in front office operations and guest engagement.
Throughout her career associated with great Indian Hospitality Brands such as The Leela Palaces, Hotels & Resorts, Indian Hotels Company Ltd, and EIH Ltd, Swati has successfully led pre-opening projects, transformed guest engagement strategies, and implemented initiatives that have elevated brand standards. She has extensive expertise in rooms division, front office operations, and food & beverage revenue optimization, ensuring seamless guest experiences while maximizing revenue streams. Her leadership is defined by a deep commitment to service excellence, innovative revenue strategies, and talent development.
Recognized for her outstanding contributions to the hospitality industry, Swati has received several prestigious accolades, including Front Office Manager of the Year – Luxury to Upper Upscale (Hotelier India Awards, 2021) and National Winner – Front Office Manager of the Year (BW Hotelier Awards, 2020). She was also honored with the Managing Director’s Club Award for Front Office Star Performer of the Year (2019) and was featured as a Millennial Employee Leader in DNA Press in 2019.
She holds a Master of Business Administration in Hospitality Management from Amity E-University and a Bachelor of Arts in Psychology and English Literature from the University of Mumbai. Her leadership capabilities have been further honed through currently pursuing the LEAD Advanced (Leela Executive Accelerated Development) Programme in collaboration with the Indian School of Hospitality.
Swati’s expertise spans luxury hospitality operations, revenue management, strategic repositioning, guest experience innovation, and sustainability initiatives. She is known for her ability to drive brand excellence, develop high-performing teams, and implement forward-thinking strategies that enhance profitability and guest loyalty. Beyond operations, she is deeply involved in CSR initiatives, employee engagement programs, and leadership development, making a lasting impact on the industry.