Leadership Shaped

By Experience and Purpose

Shazma's journey brings together hospitality leadership, family legacy, and decades of industry experience.

Shazma Charania, MBA

Building a Legacy in Alberta Hospitality

Born and raised in Red Deer, Alberta, Shazma Charania is a visionary leader and the second generation to head up ZS Holdings, a family-run hotel development company that operates multiple award winning IHG brand properties across Alberta.

She drives the company’s mission “to be an industry leader in selected emerging markets in Western Canada.” Guided by this focus, she has built a strong reputation for strategic leadership, community engagement, and industry excellence.

Education and a Global Perspective

With a Bachelor of Commerce and a Master of Business Administration specializing in hospitality complemented by a six-month scholarship to Tec de Monterrey, in Guadalajara, Mexico, she earned a well-rounded blend of knowledge and experiences, including learning a second language, Spanish.

Leadership Beyond the Business

Over the course of her career, Shazma has contributed her expertise to multiple provincial, national, and global boards. Her past service includes the Alberta Hotel & Lodging Association, Red Deer Tourism, and the IHG Owners Association Americas, where she has been an active member since 2010.

A Family Legacy Rooted in Hospitality

Shazma’s story is rooted in the experience of growing up in an immigrant family who built a business through hard work, dedication, and exceptional hospitality. These values are a part of the legacy which has been passed down from her mother (Gulzar Rajan) and father (Afzal Rajan) to their daughters, and eventually, to future generations. Established in 1983, Zainul & Shazma Holdings (ZS Holdings) roots run deep in the community and the family is proud to be Alberta owned and operated. Shazma still lives in Red Deer with her husband Jamil and their two daughters.

Growing Through People-First Leadership

Today, ZS Holdings is proudly recognized as an Employer of Choice in Alberta which is strongly tied to the company’s decisively positive and supportive corporate culture and, under Shazma’s leadership, it has grown from two to seven properties.