New York-listed global hospitality group Hyatt Hotels has appointed Vikas Chawla in the newly created role of president, India and Southwest Asia, to lead the business in the region from April 1.
Chawla joins from food and facility management solutions provider Compass Group, where he led India operations. He previously founded the beverage brand RasKik, which was later acquired by Reliance Industries.
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,” says Udell.
Udell adds: “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 organisation in India.”
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 align closely with Hyatt’s strengths in luxury and lifestyle, experiential offerings and F&B, says the hospitality company in an April 1 press release.
Hyatt’s deals signed in 2025 contributed nearly 5,000 rooms to its India and Southwest Asia pipeline.
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The five-star Park Hyatt Hyderabad in Banjara Hills, Hyderabad
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 this year.
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The Destination by Hyatt brand represents a diverse collection of independent hotels, resorts and residences. The brand’s entry into the region 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” across India and Southwest Asia — including leisure markets, spiritual hubs and select tier-two and tier-three cities driven by strong domestic travel demand.
Chawla says: “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.”
