By Mewati Sitaram
Deepak Ohri, the visionary hospitality executive who founded and established Lebua Hotels and Resorts as a leader in Southeast Asia, announced today that he will step down as CEO of the company at the end of the year.
Ohri, who has been with Lebua since its inception in 2003, has overseen the company’s growth from a single property in Bangkok to a global brand with five properties across India, Thailand, and New Zealand. Under his leadership, Lebua has been consistently ranked among the top 1 percent of companies worldwide for customer satisfaction and has won numerous awards, including the World’s Leading All-Suite Hotel by the World Travel Awards.
“It has been an honour and a privilege to serve as the CEO of Lebua,” Ohri said in a statement. “I am proud of what we have accomplished together, and I am confident that the company will continue to thrive in the future.”
Ohri is not leaving the hospitality industry altogether. He is currently working on a new luxury “hybrid” hospitality brand that is set to debut in the United States. He is also the founder and president of Luxury Atelier Maison Happiness (LAMH), a U.S.-based company specializing in luxury experiences, education, consulting, and branding.
“I am excited to embark on this new chapter in my career,” Ohri said. “I look forward to continuing to innovate and create new experiences that will delight guests around the world.”
Narawadee Bualert, President of Lebua, thanked Ohri for his “unwavering dedication and valuable contributions” to the company. “Under his leadership, Lebua has achieved unparalleled success in the luxury hospitality sector,” Bualert said. “We are committed to carrying forward his legacy and extend our best wishes to Deepak in his future endeavours.”
Ohri is a visionary leader who has made significant contributions to the luxury hospitality industry. His departure from Lebua is a loss for the company, but his legacy will continue to inspire others for years to come.
About Deepak Ohri: He is founder and CEO of Lebua Hotels and Resorts is a visionary and well-known worldwide as an award-winning entrepreneur. Deepak Ohri passed out his hospitality education flying colours with from Institute of Hotel Management in Chennai,1981 batch. He began his career with ITDC’s Ashok Hotel and climbed the ladder of success constantly.
He has transformed the luxury hospitality landscape focusing on experiential luxury. He was the first to create the world’s highest rooftop restaurant that earned two 2 Michelin stars and the first to develop the concept of a vertical destination. Under his leadership, Lebua has been named the World’s Leading All-Suite Hotel by the World Travel Award and is rated within the top 1 percent of companies globally for customer satisfaction.
Deepak Ohri is the author of the book, “A Bridge Not Too Far – Where Creativity Meets Innovation” in which he demonstrates through his journey the importance of focus, self-respect, and strategic thought process. International Hospitality Institute also named Deepak Ohri among the 100 Most Powerful People in Global Hospitality. Deepak, as a recognized leadership and luxury hospitality expert, has lectured at leading business and management schools including Indian Institute of Management Bangalore (IIMB), ISB Hyderabad, INSEAD, Columbia University, NYU Stern Business School, MIT, and Harvard Business School.
Editor in Chief : Mewati SItaram
