Vikas Chawla, the newly appointed president – India & Southwest Asia for Hyatt, says the hospitality company is looking to more than double its current footprint in India, up from 55 today.
“While the pace of openings can vary year to year based on construction and market timelines, we have a robust pipeline of nearly 100 hotels in development across India, totalling more than 15,000 keys. It reflects a significant acceleration of our growth in this critical market,” Chawla told TTG Asia.
Expanding into tier-II and tier-III cities is a significant priority for Hyatt in India, markets which it believes have strong demand fundamentals and a significant undersupply of high-quality branded hotels.
“Our recent signings, including Hyatt Place in Ahmedabad (Nikol), Bhuj and Kolhapur-Sangli, as well as Grand Hyatt Indore, reflect our commitment to bringing our distinct brand experiences to these high-growth areas,” added Chawla.
Hyatt Place and Hyatt Regency brands serve as the cornerstone of its portfolio in India by catering to both business and leisure travellers in key locations. Simultaneously, the hospitality company sees significant scope and demand for its lifestyle and luxury brands. The upcoming debut of Hari Bagh Jaipur in 2026 represents the first Destination by Hyatt property in Asia-Pacific, offering unique stay experiences to the Indian market.
“With the success of our existing Alila and JdV by Hyatt hotels and the growth of Hyatt Centric, it is clear that Indian travellers have a strong appetite for unique, differentiated lifestyle experiences. We will continue to explore where we can intentionally introduce brands from across our portfolio where they match the right market and audience,” said Chawla.
According to Chawla, the investment climate in India is very positive, with the market being fundamentally driven by strong domestic consumption, which provides a stable foundation for long-term investment.
“While business travel is robust, the most significant demand driver is domestic leisure travel, which accounts for more than 75 per cent of total tourism consumption in the country. We are seeing a structural shift where Indian travellers are exploring their own country more than ever before, with a strong preference for high-end, experiential stays,” concluded Chawla.
