Seema (Kapur) Roy: Hospitality Leader Driving Global Growth at Preferred Travel Group

Seema (Kapur) Roy: A Journey Shaped by Vision, Resilience, and Leadership

 Seema is an accomplished hospitality leader with nearly three decades of experience across luxury hotel operations, marketing, sales, and regional business leadership. She currently serves as the Area Managing Director for South Asia, the Middle East & Africa at Preferred Travel Group.

 Foundations in Hospitality: Learning the Craft from the Ground Up

Seema (Kapur) Roy’s professional journey reflects a deep-rooted understanding of hospitality built through hands-on experience, discipline, and an enduring commitment to excellence. She began her career at Intercontinental (formerly Hilton) as a Banquet Sales Executive, where she was introduced to the operational realities of luxury hospitality and the importance of delivering seamless, guest-centric experiences. These formative years helped her develop a strong instinct for relationship management, negotiation, and commercial strategy. Her subsequent role as Banquet Sales Manager at The Oberoi, New Delhi further sharpened her leadership capabilities, as she handled high-profile clientele, complex events, and revenue-driven responsibilities. This phase laid a solid foundation, equipping her with both the confidence and credibility needed to take on larger strategic roles in the industry.

Embracing Change: Expanding Horizons and New Perspectives

A defining and transformative chapter of Seema’s career unfolded at The Imperial, New Delhi, where her responsibilities expanded from Director of F&B Sales to Director of E-Marketing & Promotions. This transition highlighted her ability to evolve alongside a rapidly changing hospitality landscape and to recognize emerging trends before they became mainstream. At a time when digital marketing was still gaining momentum in the sector, she embraced innovation, storytelling, and strategic communication to strengthen brand visibility and guest engagement. Her short yet insightful stint with Yatra Online as Business Head – Domestic Hotels marked another significant shift, placing her at the intersection of traditional hospitality and the fast-paced digital travel ecosystem. This experience broadened her understanding of consumer behavior, distribution dynamics, and technology-led growth models.

Global Leadership: Shaping Strategy Across Regions

Seema’s journey reached a truly global dimension at Preferred Travel Group, the family-owned parent company that manages and operates global travel and hospitality brands including Preferred Hotels & Resorts and Beyond Green, where she assumed increasingly influential leadership roles across multiple regions. Beginning as Director, Global Sales & Marketing – India, she played a pivotal role in strengthening brand presence, building long-term partnerships, and driving market expansion. Her progression to Director, Marketing for the ASPAC region reflected her ability to manage diverse markets with cultural sensitivity and strategic clarity. Today, as Area Managing Director for South Asia, the Middle East, and Africa, Seema leads with a rare blend of operational insight and visionary thinking. Her career stands as a testament to purposeful leadership, resilience, and the belief that sustainable success in hospitality is built by empowering people, nurturing relationships, and creating value across every level of the organization.

 

Seema earned her certification in the Executive Leadership Program from Cornell University. She also serves on the National Advisory Board of HSMAI India, where she actively contributes to industry-wide capability building and thought leadership. In addition, she is a National Advisor on the WICCI (Women’s Indian Chamber of Commerce and Industry) Hospitality National Council, which works towards empowering women professionals, driving policy advocacy, and advancing leadership and growth within the hospitality sector.