Director – Brand Marketing

About The Leela The story of The Leela Palaces, Hotels and Resorts began when its founder Late Capt. CP Krishnan Nair opened The Leela Mumbai in 1986. For over three decades, The Leela has been on a journey to delight guests by providing unparalleled luxury in captivating environs ensconced in the lap of nature, wrapped in the graciousness of Indian hospitality. Headquartered in Mumbai, The Leela Palaces, Hotels and Resorts is owned by a Brookfield Asset Management- sponsored private real estate fund and operates thirteen award-winning properties in major cities and leisure destinations across India. These include the flagship hotel in the capital city of New Delhi, Bengaluru, Chennai, Udaipur, Jaipur, Gurugram, East Delhi, Mumbai, Gandhinagar, Kovalam, and Ashtamudi. The brand is also delighted to announce the upcoming opening of its latest property in Hyderabad. The Leela has a strong pipeline of future projects. The brand celebrates each hotel through its unique location, art, culture, and cuisine with thoughtful services, celebratory rituals, and immersive experiences. The Leela Palaces, Hotels and Resorts was voted the World’s Best Hotel Brand twice in a row by Travel + Leisure, USA, World’s Best Awards Survey, 2020 and 2021. In 2024, the brand has once again featured in the top 3 World’s Best Hotel Brands, after the recognition in 2023. An epitome of true Indian luxury hospitality, The Leela is committed to providing guests with unforgettable stays in settings that capture the essence of India. The brand has a marketing alliance with US- based Preferred Hotels & Resorts and is a member of the Global Hotel Alliance. Why join The Leela? • Award-Winning Brand: Join a brand that has been recognized as one of the World’s Best Hotel Brands for two consecutive years. • Commitment to Excellence: Be part of a team that is dedicated to providing the highest standards of service and hospitality. • Innovative Environment: Be part of a team that encourages creativity and innovation, ensuring that we stay at the forefront of luxury hospitality. • Career Growth: Benefit from our strong pipeline of future projects and opportunities for career advancement within The Leela and our global alliances. • Cultural Experiences: Engage with the rich cultural tapestry of India, bringing unique and authentic experiences to our discerning guests. Position Overview Reporting to: Senior Vice President and Head of Marketing and Brand Location: The Leela Corporate Office Responsibilities: The Director – Brand Communications will lead the strategic communications agenda for The Leela Palaces, Hotels and Resorts, ensuring a consistent, compelling, and premium brand narrative across all internal and external touchpoints. The role is responsible for developing and executing integrated communication strategies that strengthen The Leela's position as India's leading luxury hospitality brand. Working closely with senior leadership, hotel teams, public relations agencies, marketing, digital, and commercial functions, the incumbent will oversee corporate communications, media relations, executive communications, crisis management, brand storytelling, awards, thought leadership, and reputation management. The ideal candidate is an experienced communications professional with a strong understanding of luxury brands, hospitality, lifestyle, and corporate communications, capable of influencing stakeholders and shaping brand perception across domestic and international markets. Key Responsibilities: Corporate Brand Communications • Develop and execute The Leela's integrated corporate and brand communications strategy aligned with business objectives. • Ensure consistency of brand messaging across all corporate, hotel, digital, media, and stakeholder communications. • Build and strengthen The Leela's brand positioning through impactful storytelling and strategic communication initiatives. • Develop annual communication calendars aligned with business priorities, hotel openings, campaigns, partnerships, and corporate milestones. Public and Media Relations • Lead national and international media relations to strengthen brand visibility and reputation. • Build and maintain relationships with leading business, travel, hospitality, luxury, lifestyle, and trade media. • Manage PR agencies and evaluate communication effectiveness through measurable outcomes. • Develop press releases, media kits, fact sheets, speeches, and key messaging documents. • Identify opportunities for proactive media engagement and brand visibility. Brand Storytelling and Content Strategy • Develop compelling narratives that showcase The Leela's heritage, luxury positioning, service philosophy, sustainability initiatives, culinary excellence, wellness offerings, and guest experiences • Oversee development of high-quality communication content across print, digital, video, and social platforms. • Ensure consistency in tone of voice, editorial quality, and brand standards across all communications. Executive Communications: • Partner with the CEO, senior leadership team, and Executive Committee to develop strategic communication materials. • Draft leadership speeches, keynote presentations, interviews, opinion articles, and executive messaging. • Support communication for investor engagements, industry forums, awards, and corporate events. Reputation and Crisis Communication • Develop and maintain crisis communication protocols and response frameworks. • Lead communication during business-sensitive situations, ensuring timely, transparent, and brand-appropriate messaging. • Monitor media sentiment and proactively manage reputation risks. • Advise leadership on communication strategies during critical business situations. Awards, Recognition and Thought Leadership • Lead submissions for national and international hospitality, luxury, travel, sustainability, and employer branding awards. • Identify speaking opportunities, conferences, and industry platforms for executive leadership. • Position The Leela and its leadership as thought leaders within the hospitality and luxury sectors. Internal Communications • Develop communication strategies that strengthen employee engagement and reinforce organizational culture. • Partner with Human Resources to communicate key initiatives, leadership messages, employer branding campaigns, and employee recognition programmes. • Ensure alignment between internal and external brand messaging. Brand Partnerships and Strategic Campaigns • Support strategic partnerships and brand collaborations through integrated communication plans. • Develop communication strategies for hotel openings, renovations, product launches, culinary festivals, wellness initiatives, and experiential campaigns. • Collaborate closely with Marketing, Digital, Revenue Management, Sales, and Operations to maximize campaign impact. Agency and Stakeholder Management • Manage PR agencies, communication consultants, creative partners, photographers, content creators, and production agencies. • Develop communication budgets and ensure optimum utilization of resources. • Build strong relationships with tourism boards, hospitality associations, luxury publications, influencers, and strategic partners. • Track communication effectiveness through media coverage, share of voice, brand sentiment, PR value, campaign reach, and stakeholder engagement. • Prepare periodic communication reports and dashboards for senior leadership. • Continuously evaluate emerging communication trends and recommend innovative approaches. Qualifications & Experience • Bachelor’s degree in mass communication, Journalism, Public Relations, Marketing, English Literature, Business Administration, Hospitality Management, or a related field. • Master’s degree in mass communication, Public Relations, Marketing, Corporate Communications, Journalism, or MBA from a reputed institution is preferred. • Professional certifications in Corporate Communications, Public Relations, Brand Management, Digital Communications, Crisis Communications, or Strategic Communications will be an added advantage. • 10–15 years of progressive experience in Brand Communications, Corporate Communications, Public Relations, or Integrated Marketing Communications. • Minimum 5 years in a leadership role managing corporate communication strategies for luxury hospitality, luxury retail, travel, lifestyle, aviation, premium consumer brands, or corporate organizations. • Proven experience managing executive communications, media relations, reputation management, and integrated communication campaigns.