Holiday Inn Express appoints Priyanka Ahluwalia as Cluster General Manager

In this role, she will oversee the operations of the 12 HIEX hotels across India owned by SAMHI.

SAMHI announced the appointment of Priyanka Ahluwalia as Cluster General Manager for its portfolio of Holiday Inn Express hotels, effective January 2026. In this leadership role, she will oversee the operations of the 12 Holiday Inn Express (HIEX) hotels across India owned by SAMHI.

Ahluwalia is a senior hospitality professional with over 25 years of experience spanning hotels, tourism boards, and golf resorts. Prior to this role, she spent 12 years with The LaLiT Suri Hospitality Group. Her most recent role was General Manager – Sales & Operations, where she oversaw a diverse portfolio of hotels in India and the UK. During her tenure, she held revenue responsibility for over 2,200 keys and worked closely with unit heads to drive operational excellence and improved service levels. She also holds an Executive MBA from Venkateshwara Open University. 

Ashish Jakhanwala, Chairman, Managing Director and CEO of SAMHI Hotels, commented on the appointment, “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.”

Speaking on her appointment, Ahluwalia said, “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.”