Hyatt appoints Vikas Chawla as President – India & Southwest Asia
Vikas Chawla, President, India & Southwest Asia, Hyatt
Notably, the first Destination by Hyatt property in APAC, Hari Bagh Jaipur, set to debut in 2026, marking Hyatt’s second collection brand in India.
Hyatt Hotels Corporation announced the next stage of growth of Hyatt’s business in India with the appointment of Vikas Chawla in the newly created senior role of President – India & Southwest Asia to lead the business in the region, effective April 1, 2026.
The new leadership position reflects Hyatt’s commitment to accelerating its expansion and deepening its brand presence in one of Hyatt’s most strategically important growth markets. The appointment comes amid strong development momentum for Hyatt in India, where it continues to expand its portfolio and pipeline across key urban and leisure destinations.
Chawla will report to David Udell, Group President, Asia Pacific at Hyatt. “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,” said Udell.
A seasoned entrepreneur 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. He brings a proven track record of building brands, scaling businesses and driving strategic expansion, fully aligned with Hyatt’s evolution into an insights-led and brand-focused organisation.
Vikas Chawla, President – India & Southwest Asia, said, “My ambition is to further develop Hyatt’s portfolio, making it the most preferred hospitality brand amongst discerning travellers in India, the best hospitality brand to work for in India, and to become a significant pillar of growth for Hyatt’s global portfolio.”
The group’s signed deals in 2025 are 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 Destination by Hyatt brand represents a diverse collection of independent hotels, resorts and residences. 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 across India and Southwest Asia—including leisure markets, spiritual hubs and select tier two and tier three cities driven by strong domestic travel demand.
