Some leaders command attention the moment they enter a room. Others earn it over time. Kanika Hasrat belongs firmly to the latter.
Soft-spoken, composed and deeply assured, Kanika has spent nearly three decades in hospitality building something far more enduring than high-performing hotels. She has built teams, careers and cultures—often away from the spotlight, but always with lasting impact.
Today, as Senior Regional Director – Operations, South Asia at Hilton Hotels, and President of WICCI Hospitality, she stands at a point in her career that feels both earned and intentional.
Where It All Began
Kanika’s journey did not start with big titles. It started on the ground, in housekeeping, with The Oberoi Group. Those early years shaped her in ways no management classroom ever could. They taught her discipline, respect for process, and an understanding of what it truly takes to deliver consistent service.
It is perhaps why, even today, she speaks easily with frontline teams and understands operations down to the smallest detail. There is no distance in her leadership—only perspective.
Learning Across Borders
Her career soon took her across cities and countries—Mumbai, Jaipur, Delhi NCR, Amsterdam, and China. Each role added a new layer to her leadership.
At JW Marriott, Juhu, she handled operations at scale in one of India’s busiest luxury hotels. Later, as part of Marriott’s task force, she supported hotel openings in China, working across cultures and markets that demanded agility and sensitivity.
These experiences broadened her outlook, but they also reinforced a belief she still holds close: strong systems matter, but people matter more.
Building Hotels, Building Trust
As General Manager of Trident Jaipur, Kanika led a property that became known not just for its performance, but for its teamwork. The hotel emerged as a market leader, earning industry recognition and loyal guests.
Her time with Marriott International as General Manager of Courtyard by Marriott Gurugram Downtown further cemented her reputation. The hotel consistently outperformed its competitive set and was repeatedly awarded Best Business Hotel in North India. Alongside running the hotel, Kanika took on a broader role—training leaders across the APAC region and shaping guest-handling and leadership programs.
What stood out during this phase was her ability to balance commercial results with strong culture—without making either feel forced.
The Taj Chapter
Kanika’s leadership journey with The Indian Hotels Company Limited (IHCL) marked a shift from individual hotels to regional influence.
From leading Taj City Centre Gurugram and Vivanta New Delhi, Dwarka, to her role as Area Director overseeing hotels across Uttar Pradesh, Uttarakhand and Madhya Pradesh, she worked at the intersection of operations, assets, stakeholders and strategy.
Her focus went beyond numbers. She invested time in cultural alignment, local partnerships and sustainable tourism—quietly strengthening the foundations on which long-term success is built.
A New Chapter with Hilton
In 2025, Kanika took on her current role with Hilton Hotels, leading operations across South Asia. It is a role that comes with scale, complexity and high expectations—one she approaches with calm confidence.
Her priorities are clear: operational excellence, meaningful luxury, and growing people. At a time when India’s hospitality sector is expanding rapidly, Kanika’s leadership brings stability, depth and long-term thinking to the table.
Beyond the Hotel Walls
Parallel to her corporate role, Kanika serves as President of WICCI Hospitality, where her focus shifts to the future of the industry itself. Here, her work centres on women leadership, skill development and employability—creating pathways for people to build sustainable careers in hospitality.
It is work she speaks about with quiet conviction. For her, leadership is incomplete if it does not create opportunity for others.
The Leader She Is Known To Be
Ask people who have worked with Kanika, and a pattern emerges. They speak of a leader who listens. Who trusts her teams. Who believes that transparency builds ownership, and ownership builds results.
She does not lead with noise or theatrics. She leads with clarity, consistency and respect.
Still Evolving
Kanika Hasrat’s journey—from housekeeping to regional leadership, over nearly three decades in hospitality—is not framed by milestones alone. It is defined by the way she has moved through each phase: thoughtfully, steadily, and with purpose.
As she continues to shape the hospitality landscape in South Asia, one thing remains clear—her leadership is not about visibility. It is about impact that lasts.
