Sharad K Upadhyay: The People-First Leader Redefining Modern Hospitality at Crowne Plaza Greater Noida

In the ever-evolving world of hospitality, true leadership is defined not just by numbers, but by impact—on people, communities, and the planet. Sharad K Upadhyay, General Manager of Crowne Plaza Greater Noida, exemplifies this philosophy with remarkable clarity. Honoured as a Winner of the Top 20 General Managers | People’s Choice Awards 2025, Sharad represents the new era of purpose-driven hospitality.

With a career spanning 25 years across six global markets—Bangkok, Gurgaon, Mumbai, Beijing, Kathmandu, and Greater Noida—Sharad brings a rare mix of operational mastery, cultural fluency, and a deeply human leadership style that resonates across teams and industries.

---

Transformational Leadership That Builds People, Not Just Processes

What truly sets Sharad apart is his ability to balance high-performance hotel operations with people development and social impact.

At Crowne Plaza Greater Noida, he successfully led the complex transition from managed to franchise operations, maintaining full IHG brand standards without compromise. The results?

• Exceptional guest satisfaction

• Above-industry employee retention

• Strong revenue growth powered by strategic commercial innovation

Under his guidance, the hotel has evolved into a talent development hub, helping colleagues grow within the property, across India, and even internationally.

Sharad’s leadership style—best described as “coaching over commanding”—has created a workplace where leaders are empowered to think independently, make decisions confidently, and grow into future-ready hospitality professionals. Structured weekly mentoring, customised development plans, and his ability to recognise potential before others see it in themselves have led to multiple internal promotions and consistently high retention.

---

Champion of Diversity, Sustainability & Social Upliftment

Sharad’s vision goes far beyond operational excellence. He believes hotels must be positive forces for the community, and his initiatives reflect that belief.

Under his leadership, Crowne Plaza Greater Noida has launched several pioneering sustainability and social-impact programs:

• Doubling the women workforce through focused diversity initiatives

• Surplus food donations to SMART Century

• Upcycling hotel linens into eco-friendly bags with Jhola Makers

• Transforming PET bottles into T-shirts in partnership with Revolve Green

• Converting cigarette butts into artefacts through Buff India

• Repurposing jam jars into handmade lip balm containers

• Empowering women drivers through the Azad Foundation’s Women on Wheels program

Each initiative is rooted in Sharad’s holistic approach to sustainability—protecting the planet, uplifting communities, and creating long-term, meaningful impact.

---

A Commercial Powerhouse with Record-Breaking Results

While Sharad’s leadership is deeply people-centric, his commercial achievements are equally outstanding. Under his strategic direction, Crowne Plaza Greater Noida recorded:

• ₹6.63 crore growth in room revenue

• ₹9.44 crore increase in total revenue

• ₹6.21 crore growth in GOP

• RevPAR of ₹700

The Front Office team achieved the #1 AMEA rank, along with:

• Guest Love Score: 97.85% (record-breaking)

• 100% member recognition

• Highest survey count of 128 in August 2025

• Industry-leading check-in experience scores

Sharad’s trajectory is further highlighted by accolades such as:

• General Manager of the Year – Indian Hospitality Excellence Awards 2024

• Hospitality Achiever of the Year – AHP Awards 2025

• Features in BOTT GM Series and Diversey APAC BW HOTELIER GM Show

---

A True Embodiment of Modern Hospitality Leadership

From driving strong financial performance and building multicultural teams to uplifting communities and nurturing future leaders, Sharad K Upadhyay stands as a role model for the global hospitality industry.

His leadership is not defined by authority, but by vision.
Not by instructions, but by empowerment.
Not by short-term wins, but by long-term impact.

As a Winner of the Top 20 General Managers Awards 2025, Sharad’s journey reflects the future of hospitality—sustainable, inclusive, community-driven, and people-first.