Hyatt Hotels Corp. has announced the appointment of Vikas Chawla to the newly created senior role of president – India & Southwest Asia, marking the next stage of growth of its business in the region.
With over 30 years of global leadership experience in food and beverage and consulting, Chawla will lead Hyatt’s overall strategy, growth and performance in India and Southwest Asia. The appointment comes amid strong development momentum for Hyatt in India, where it continues to expand its portfolio and pipeline across urban and leisure destinations. Chawla will report to David Udell, group president, Asia Pacific at Hyatt.
“The creation of this new senior leadership role reflects both the scale of opportunity we see in India and our commitment to this market,” said Udell. “Over more than four decades, Hyatt has built a strong foundation in India. As we enter our next phase of growth, Vikas’ extensive experience and entrepreneurial leadership will bring the fresh knowledge, skills and abilities required at the top of our organization in India. His deep understanding of the Indian consumer will be pivotal to drive our strategic growth in this critical market as we accelerate our brand-led expansion and unlock new avenues for success.”
“I am incredibly excited to join Hyatt at such a dynamic moment in its growth journey in India,” said Chawla. “Hyatt’s strong brand portfolio, exceptional talent, and commitment to delivering meaningful guest experiences create tremendous opportunity. My ambition is to further develop Hyatt’s portfolio, making it the most preferred hospitality brand amongst discerning travelers in India, the best hospitality brand to work for in India, and to become a significant pillar of growth for Hyatt’s global portfolio.”
India represents one of the most dynamic growth opportunities for Hyatt in Asia Pacific. Rising middle-class demand for premium travel, luxury experiences and differentiated dining has powered the company’s growth in the region, with deals signed in 2025 contributing nearly 5,000 rooms to its India and Southwest Asia pipeline.
Building on its existing footprint of 55 hotels across nine brands across India and Southwest Asia, the first Destination by Hyatt property in Asia Pacific, Hari Bagh Jaipur, is set to debut in 2026. The arrival of the Destination by Hyatt brand will mark Hyatt’s second collection brand in India, and Hari Bagh Jaipur will mark the third Hyatt hotel in Jaipur.
Looking ahead, Hyatt plans to continue to strengthen its brand presence in key gateway markets such as Mumbai, Bengaluru, New Delhi and Hyderabad, while expanding into high-growth, experience-led destinations—including leisure markets, spiritual hubs and select tier two and tier three cities driven by strong domestic travel demand.