The Leela

The Leela Palaces, Hotels and Resorts were founded as part of The Leela Group, which was named after the founder C. P. Krishnan Nair's wife. Capt. Nair bought 11 acres of land near his house in Sahar Village, Mumbai to build his first hotel, The Leela Mumbai, in 1986. It was the first luxury hotel near the current Chhatrapati Shivaji International Airport.{{cite web|title=Introduction and History|url=https://www.theleela.com/the-leela/about-the-leela/?tab=2|website=www.theleela.com|access-date=1 September 2016}}

Headquartered in Mumbai, The Leela Palaces, Hotels and Resorts is owned by a Brookfield Asset Management-sponsored private real estate fund and operates twelve award-winning properties in major cities and leisure destinations across India. These include the flagship hotel in the capital city of New Delhi, Bengaluru, Chennai, Udaipur, Jaipur, Gurugram, East Delhi, Mumbai, Gandhinagar, Kovalam and Ashtamudi.

In 2001, the group's first modern hotel was built with 357 rooms in the IT capital of India, Bangalore, inspired by the Mysore Palace and the architecture of the 13th century Vijayanagara empire, and is surrounded by seven acres of gardens.{{Cite web |title=How many rooms in leela palace delhi? |url=https://lotcottages.com/how-many-rooms-in-leela-palace-delhi}} By 2009, two more properties were added to this portfolio: The Leela Palace in Udaipur (Rajasthan) and The Leela Ambience Gurgaon.

File:Airport road Bangalore.jpg]]

File:The Leela Palace Chennai.jpg]]

The Leela Ambience Gurgaon Hotel & Residences is the group's first non-owned, managed property. The Leela Palace New Delhi opened in April 2011; the palace is inspired by Sir Edwin Lutyens Delhi.{{Cite web |title=Best of the Best 2012: Hotels: The Leela Palace New Delhi |date=19 May 2023 |url=https://robbreport.com/travel/destinations/best-of-the-best-2012-hotels-the-leela-palace-new-delhi-228606/}} The group opened a new hotel in Chennai in 2013 called The Leela Palace Chennai. The second Managed hotel was taken over in year 2015, in East Delhi, The Leela Ambience Convention Hotel.{{Cite web |title=When was Leela Udaipur built? |date=26 September 2023 |url=https://www.rampfesthudson.com/when-was-leela-udaipur-built/}} In 2021, the group further expanded its portfolio with three new hotels; The Leela Palace Jaipur, The Leela Gandhinagar and The Leela Bhartiya City Bengaluru.{{Cite web |title=Leela to open up three more properties in 2021 |url=https://hospitality.economictimes.indiatimes.com/news/hotels/leela-to-open-up-three-more-properties-in-2021/81424210}} There are plans to open new hotels in Hyderabad, Sikkim and Agra.{{Cite web |title=Leela to open up three more properties in 2021 |url=https://hospitality.economictimes.indiatimes.com/news/hotels/leela-to-open-up-three-more-properties-in-2021/81424210}}

The brand has marketing alliances with US-based Preferred Hotels and Resorts and is a member of Global Hotel Alliance based in Dubai.{{Cite news |title=Hotel Leela to soon announce global foray with a deal in Dubai |newspaper=The Economic Times |date=7 April 2013 |url=https://economictimes.indiatimes.com/industry/services/hotels-/-restaurants/hotel-leela-to-soon-announce-global-foray-with-a-deal-in-dubai/articleshow/19426302.cms}} A previous marketing alliance with Swiss-based Kempinski ended in October 2013.{{Cite web |title=Leela snaps marketing, branding ties with Kempinski| url=https://www.thehindu.com/business/Industry/leela-snaps-marketing-branding-ties-with-kempinski/article5210658.ece| date=7 October 2013| access-date=9 January 2023| author=Special Correspondent| website=thehindu.com}}

In a deal in October 2019, the company sold its hotel properties and operations as well as hotel assets located in New Delhi, Bengaluru, Chennai, Udaipur to Canada-based Brookfield Asset Management, in an INR 3,950 crore settlement, marking the entry of Brookfield in India’s hospitality market.{{Cite web|title=Hotel Leelaventure Limited completes sale transaction with Brookfield|url=https://www.theleela.com/the-leela/media/press-releases/hotel-leelaventure-limited-completes-sale-transaction-with-brookfield/|access-date=2021-08-24|website=www.theleela.com}}{{Cite web|last=Sapam|first=Bidya|date=2019-10-22|title=Hotel Leelaventure completes sale of assets to Brookfield|url=https://www.livemint.com/companies/news/hotel-leelaventure-completes-sale-of-assets-to-brookfield-11571754320592.html|access-date=2021-08-24|website=mint|language=en}}{{Cite news|date=2019-10-26|title=Most beautiful 5-star hotel in Udaipur, Leela gets sold, Brookfield purchases for 2.13 billion|url=https://english.newstracklive.com/news/brookfield-purchased-5-star-hotel-leela-in-udaipur-mc23-nu-1044672-1.html|access-date=2021-08-24|website=News Track|language=English}}

ITC Group had objected to the sale of Leela owned hotels citing reasons of misappropriation of funds in the sale transaction which was led by the consortium of banks and also due to the fact the interests of minority shareholders were overlooked, and other bids submitted by interested bidders were not considered by JM Financial, the asset reconstruction company in Mumbai. The Securities Appellate Tribunal in September 2019 rejected the petition of ITC clearing the way for Brookfield to acquire the hotels.{{Cite news|last1=Vyas|first1=Maulik|url=https://economictimes.indiatimes.com/industry/services/hotels-/-restaurants/sat-throws-out-itc-plea-against-leela-brookfield-deal/articleshow/71317103.cms?from=mdr|title=SAT ends Leela over asset deal with Brookfield, for Now|date=2019-09-27|work=The Economic Times|access-date=2020-04-19|last2=Zachariah|first2=Reena}}

In addition to ITC, there were other suitors for the Leela Hotels & Resorts, including that of Rashid Al-Habtoor{{Cite web|url=https://www.google.com/search?q=habtoor+nair+dinesh+leela&tbm=isch#imgrc=aEVOrpZdt1IG5M|title=habtoor nair dinesh leela - Google Search|website=www.google.com|access-date=2020-04-19}} a UAE businessman jointly with an Arms Dealer Abhishek Verma{{Citation|title=Happy birthday Abhishek Verma cake cutting with Nair family ~ February 23, 2020| date=29 February 2020 |url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5KINsGHlXsY |archive-url=https://ghostarchive.org/varchive/youtube/20211213/5KINsGHlXsY |archive-date=2021-12-13 |url-status=live|language=en|access-date=2020-04-19}}{{cbignore}} who submitted their bid of US$600 million in January 2019 however their bids were not entertained and questions were raised on the conduct of JM Financial in this sale transaction.{{Cite web|url=https://www.outlookindia.com/newsscroll/jm-fin-arc-conduct-in-leela-saga-questionable-ians-exclusive/1522548|title=JM FIN ARC conduct in Leela saga questionable (IANS Exclusive)|website=outlookindia.com|access-date=2020-04-19}}

The Leela Palaces, Hotels and Resorts is the trading name of Leela Palaces and Resorts Limited.{{cite web|title=Leela Hotels: Company Information|url=https://www.theleela.com/the-leela/about-the-leela/company-information/|website=Leela Hotels|access-date=11 March 2016}} Hotel Leelaventure Limited is the ultimate holding company of the hotel group, and is traded on the Bombay Stock Exchange ({{Bombay Stock Exchange|500193}}) and National Stock Exchange of India ({{nse|HLVLTD}}). Hotel Leelaventure Limited is itself part of The Leela Group business conglomerate.

• Travel + Leisure USA World’s Best Awards – The Leela Palaces, Hotels and Resorts ranked the fifth best hospitality brand in the world, July 2016 {{cite web|title=The Leela Palaces, Hotels and Resorts ranked the fifth best hospitality brand in the world|url=https://www.moneycontrol.com/news/business/companies/the-leela-voted-worlds-fifth-best-hotel-brand-980946.html|website=moneycontrol|date=19 July 2016 }}
• Experiential Venue Awards 2017 – The Leela Palaces, Hotels & Resorts wins the 'India's Favorite Hospitality Group For MICE & Weddings', July 2017{{cite web|title=Experiential Venue Awards 2017- The Leela Palaces, Hotels & Resorts wins the 'India's Favorite Hospitality Group For MICE & Weddings|url=https://www.theleela.com/the-leela/media/awards/|website=The Leela}}
• Travel + Leisure USA World’s Best Awards – The Leela Palaces, Hotels and Resorts ranked in Top 10 best hotels Brands in the world, July 2019 {{cite web|title=The Leela Palaces, Hotels and Resorts ranked in Top 10 best hotels brand in the world|url=https://www.travelandleisure.com/worlds-best/hotel-top-brands | website=Travel + Leisure}}
• Travel + Leisure USA World’s Best Awards 2024 – #3 World’s Best Hotel Brand {{cite web|title=Travel + Leisure USA World's Best Awards 2024|url=https://www.travelandleisure.com/wba-2024-hotel-brands-8659809|website=travelandleisure|date=9 July 2014 }}

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Category:Hotel chains in India

Category:Hospitality companies established in 1986

Category:Companies based in Mumbai

Category:Companies listed on the Bombay Stock Exchange

Category:1986 establishments in Maharashtra

Category:Companies listed on the National Stock Exchange of India