Kanika Hasrat

Kanika Hasrat     

She is the First woman Area Director in India at The Indian Hotels Company Limited (IHCL), popularly known as the Taj Group, that manages a portfolio of over 200 hotels, resorts, jungle safaris, palaces, spas and in-flight catering services. It is best known for its iconic Taj brand of Luxury hotels. Kanika in her role as Area Director is responsible for the operation and success of 9 hotels in the North and Central Indian states of Uttar Pradesh, Uttarakhand and Madhya Pradesh where she with a team of 1600 associates leads lush hotel properties like the spa-resort Taj Rishikesh, The Taj Corbett, the legendary Taj Mahal Lucknow, and the historical Heritage and Palaces properties of Taj Nadesar Palace Varanasi and Usha Kiran Palace Gwalior, as well as the brand new Taj Lakeview Bhopal where she is based as GM.

With over 27 years of hospitality experience, Kanika has worked with some of the best brands in hospitality – namely IHCL, Oberoi Hotels and Resorts and Marriott International in India and internationally.

A noted name in the South East Asia hospitality circuit, with passionate people-building skills, she is a professional par excellence who has been awarded multiple times by Industry leaders and publications, including the Hotelier India National Award for best General Manager on two occasions.
A person regarded as a mentor by many Kanika has shared lessons on many prestigious platforms like Women’s Forum for the Economy and Society, the Women Economic Forum, the South East Asia leadership group of GOPA Hospitality Management, Women’s Indian Chamber of Commerce & Industry (WICCI) where she is National President for the industry vertical, and is a regular writer for hospitality publications.

A risk taker with an ever positive spirit and solutions mindset, she believes, “Life is not about what you do; it is about the quality you bring to everything you do”. She adds, “One doesn’t need money to give back – all one needs is desire, gumption, trust and hope.” Kanika dons many hats in diverse leadership and community building roles as advisor and board member. A mother of an 18 year old daughter, she encourages all young persons to dream and not set limits for themselves.