SAMHI has appointed Priyanka Ahluwalia as Cluster General Manager for its portfolio of Holiday Inn Express hotels, effective January 2026. In this role, she will oversee operations across the 12 Holiday Inn Express (HIEX) hotels in India owned by SAMHI.
Ahluwalia is a hospitality professional with over 25 years of experience across hotels, tourism boards and golf resorts, with leadership roles spanning sales, marketing, operations and revenue strategy across India, Afghanistan and the Middle East. She has led multi-location businesses and large operating teams across diverse markets.
Prior to this appointment, she spent 12 years with The LaLiT Suri Hospitality Group. Most recently, she served as General Manager – Sales & Operations, overseeing a portfolio of hotels across India and the UK. During this tenure, she held revenue responsibility for over 2,200 keys and worked closely with unit heads to drive operational performance and service delivery improvements.
Commenting on the appointment, Ashish Jakhanwala, Chairman, Managing Director and CEO of SAMHI Hotels, said, "Priyanka’s appointment comes at a defining moment as we continue to scale our Holiday Inn Express portfolio and sharpen our operational edge. We are confident that her leadership will strengthen our portfolio and help us deliver the right guest experience.”
Ahluwalia is known for her focus on operational standardisation, owner relationship management and building high-performing teams. Her experience in setting up standard operating procedures (SOPs) and strengthening cross-functional coordination is expected to support the brand’s operational consistency across locations.
Speaking on her appointment, Priyanka Ahluwalia said, "I am delighted to join the team and lead the Holiday Inn Express portfolio. My focus has always been on driving operational excellence through a people-first approach. I look forward to collaborating with the teams across these 12 Holiday Inn Express hotels to refine our service delivery and ensure we continue to provide smart, efficient hospitality that resonates emotionally with our guests.”
She holds an Executive MBA from Venkateshwara Open University and has been recognised through her career for exceeding business targets and driving growth across international markets.
The appointment aligns with IHG’s broader people and culture philosophy, ‘Room to Belong’, which focuses on fostering inclusive workplaces and enabling professionals to contribute meaningfully within the organisation.
