Sanjay Kaushik: Building Leadership from the Ground Up
In the world of travel and tourism, leadership is often associated with luxury hotels, global brands, and polished boardrooms. Yet, some of the most impactful leaders are forged far away from these spaces—through discipline, perseverance, and lived experience. Sanjay Kaushik is one such name whose journey reflects what it truly means to build leadership from the ground up.
Humble Beginnings, Unshakeable Discipline
Sanjay Kaushik’s story begins with modest roots. Before hospitality uniforms and executive roles, he started his working life as a shopkeeper. These early years shaped his understanding of hard work, responsibility, and people—lessons that would later define his professional philosophy.
Parallel to earning a livelihood, Sanjay discovered a deep passion for sports. His journey began with traditional wrestling and later took a formal turn at Jawaharlal Nehru Stadium, New Delhi, where he trained in Judo under the legendary Shri Gurucharan Singh Gogi. His relentless dedication paid off when he competed at the national level and earned a Black Belt in 1984—a milestone that instilled lifelong discipline, resilience, and mental strength.
From National Service to Hospitality Foundations
Sports opened the door to national service when Sanjay joined the Central Industrial Security Force (CISF) as a Constable through the sports quota. The years spent in uniform strengthened his leadership instincts, accountability, and ability to perform under pressure—qualities that would later translate seamlessly into hospitality operations.
In 1996, Sanjay made a decisive career shift into the hotel industry, joining ITC Maurya Sheraton as a cashier. What appeared to be a modest entry point soon became the foundation of an extraordinary hospitality career.
Rising Through Global Hospitality Brands
Over the next two decades, Sanjay Kaushik steadily rose through operational and leadership ranks, gaining a reputation as a turnaround specialist. His sharp operational insight, combined with a deep understanding of revenue optimization and marketing, made him a trusted leader across multiple hospitality formats.
His professional journey spanned respected global and regional brands such as IHG, Raviz, and the Radisson Hotel Group. Each role added depth to his expertise—whether it was driving operational efficiency, improving guest experiences, or leading multi-property teams across diverse markets.
Sanjay’s operational journey culminated with his role as Senior Regional Director – Operations, South Asia, at Radisson Hotel Group, marking nearly three decades of hands-on leadership in the travel and tourism sector.
Transitioning from Operations to Investment
After years of shaping hotels from the inside, Sanjay transitioned into the strategic investment space—bringing an operator’s mindset to capital deployment. Along with his partners, he founded the Holystone Hospitality Fund and now serves as Managing Partner of the Holystone TFCI Hospitality India Fund.
Co-sponsored by the Tourism Finance Corporation of India (TFCI), the fund has a corpus of ₹1,000 crores. Its mission is clear: to invest in stressed and high-potential hotel assets across India, revive underperforming properties, and create sustainable long-term value.
This strategic shift represents a rare blend of deep hotel operations expertise and institutional investment acumen—a combination that is increasingly vital in India’s evolving hospitality landscape.
A Lasting Influence on Indian Hospitality
Today, Sanjay Kaushik continues to shape the travel and tourism ecosystem as a leader, mentor, advisor, and investor. His journey—from grassroots beginnings and national service to global hotel leadership and large-scale hospitality investment—is a powerful reminder that true leadership is not inherited; it is earned.
For aspiring hoteliers, tourism professionals, and investors alike, Sanjay’s story stands as proof that resilience, discipline, and a people-first mindset can redefine success—no matter where the journey begins.
