The Leela Palaces, Hotels and Resorts has announced the launch of the Leela Centre of Excellence (LCoE), a strategic initiative aimed at building a future-ready talent pipeline as the luxury hospitality brand accelerates its expansion plans across India.
The initiative comes as The Leela plans to expand its portfolio from 15 to 24 hotels over the next three years. The company said the LCoE is expected to play a key role in inducting, training and developing more than 3,000 associates across its luxury hospitality ecosystem, with a focus on strengthening leadership capabilities, operational excellence and service standards to support long-term growth.
The Centre has been developed in association with Le Cordon Bleu and GD Goenka University, part of the GD Goenka Group, which operates more than 150 K-12 schools across India.
Spread across approximately 9,600 sq. ft. of purpose-built infrastructure within the 50,000 sq. ft. GD Goenka School of Hospitality & Culinary Management, the Centre has been designed as a fully immersive learning environment. It includes dedicated classrooms, an auditorium, specialised training kitchens, and integrated residential and recreational facilities.
According to the company, the Centre combines academic learning with real-world hospitality exposure through guidance from experienced faculty and industry practitioners. It will also introduce structured academic pathways, including a BBA in Hospitality aligned with the National Education Policy (NEP) 2020, along with dual certifications from Le Cordon Bleu and GD Goenka University.
The Leela said the Centre of Excellence represents a long-term investment in hospitality talent development at scale. The company plans to annually invest in structured learning and capability-building initiatives impacting more than 650 associates and managers across the organisation.
This includes leadership and functional development programmes for over 250 managers through the Leela Executive Accelerated Development (LEAD) programme, as well as specialised bootcamps, conclaves and industry conferences. The initiative will also cover academic and operational training for more than 220 associates through programmes such as The Leela Palace Services (TLPS), the Leela Leadership Development Programme (LLDP), and Butler Development programmes.
In addition, the Centre will focus on strengthening service and cultural excellence through soft skills training for more than 200 associates annually. Advanced culinary capability-building initiatives under Shefs at The Leela will train 30 culinary professionals each year.
Speaking on the launch, Anuraag Bhatnagar said: “As we celebrate four decades of True Indian Luxury, the launch of the Leela Centre of Excellence (LCoE) marks an important step in strengthening the foundation of our growth. As we expand, it is critical that our people, culture and service standards evolve with consistency. The LCoE brings together global partnerships and operational depth to build a strong pipeline of talent aligned with our values. It is an investment in people, culture and capability that will support our next phase of growth.”
Nipun Goenka said: “Our association with The Leela Palaces, Hotels and Resorts for the Leela Centre of Excellence reflects a shared commitment to building future-ready talent for the hospitality industry. The Leela stands at the epitome of true Indian luxury, and it is a privilege to partner with a brand that has consistently set benchmarks in service, culture and excellence. By combining academic depth with industry relevance, we aim to shape professionals who are grounded in values, capability and purpose.”
Rajiv Gulshan said: “The collaboration between Leela Palaces, Hotels and Resorts and Le Cordon Bleu along with G D Goenka University is designed to develop talent equipped with both technical mastery and a deep understanding of service, culture and international standards. LCoE will bring about much-needed transformation in hospitality education by creating future-ready professionals grounded in excellence, innovation, and gracious hospitality.”
The company said the Leela Centre of Excellence will serve as the strategic hub for its learning ecosystem, bringing together and strengthening existing programmes including the Leela Leadership Development Programme (LLDP), The Leela Palace Services Programme (TLPS), the Leela Executive Accelerated Development Programme (LEAD) and Shefs at The Leela.
The programmes will operate under the LCoE umbrella to create a structured platform for continuous talent development and upskilling across the organisation, alongside functional certifications including Butler and Sommelier programmes.
The Leela said the initiative reinforces its long-term commitment to institutionalising excellence and ensuring that guest experiences continue to reflect the brand’s standards of warmth, grace and service excellence.
