Priya Paul

Priya Paul cut her teeth as a hotelier under the guidance of her father, the late Surrendra Paul while working as the marketing manager of The Park in New Delhi. This was not the best of times for the hospitality industry, with the sector reeling from a supply glut.

Over the years, she worked to build a differential hospitality brand, with design at its core. The Park Hotels are stylish, edgy and fun properties that represent the contemporary face of Indian hospitality. Paul was ranked by Forbes magazine as one of Asia’s 50 most powerful businesswomen.

Her interest lies in the field of literature and arts too; she is a trustee of Indira Gandhi National Center for the Arts (IGNCA) and board member of the National Council of Science Museum. She was also awarded India’s fourth highest civilian honour, the Padma Shri in 2012, and was conferred the prestigious Insignia of Chevalier de l’Ordre National du Mérite (National Order of Merit), an Order of State granted by the president of the French Republic. Last year, The Park Hotels celebrated 50 years.

Over the years, Paul has succeeded in creating a unique collection of luxury boutique hotels. When she took over, the group had three hotels under one brand; now it has 17 hotels under three brands: The Park, The Park Collection and Zone by The Park. By 2022, she aims to take the number up by 20 new properties. She believes in delivering results by offering leadership with a difference.

An ideas woman, her most ambitious project has been the ‘Zone by The Park’, which first launched in Jaipur. The hotel is designed to meet the requirements of the price-conscious, design-conscious urban traveller. “Witnessing the success of Zone Jaipur, we are confident that this hotel will play a key role in strengthening the brand. We are certain that the hotel will appeal to customers with its design and format,” she has said.