"Indian hospitality is more than just a service"

IN CONVERSATION WITH LOKESH SABHARWAL, REGIONAL VICE PRESIDENT, OPERATIONS, INDIA & SOUTH WEST ASIA, HYATT.

- Vidhi Gupta

From strong footprint expansion with 8 new openings and 1200 new keys to committing to providing distinct guest experiences throughout the rich tapestry of India’s cultural landscape, Lokesh Sabharwal shares Hyatt’s vision for India.

How fruitful has the Indian market been for Hyatt over the years?

India remains one of Hyatt’s top global growth markets, and we will continue to thoughtfully grow our presence across the country with a key focus on LLLW - ‘Loyalty, Luxury, Leisure, Lifestyle, and Wellness’ which aligns with the evolving demands of our target audience. We are opening new properties in some of the most sought-after existing and emerging destinations and introducing new brands from Hyatt’s global portfolio, to meet the diverse hospitality needs of our guests across the region.

What are your future plans for the country?

Hyatt currently has 50 hotels in Southwest Asia across nine distinct brands and we have already crossed the 10,000 keys milestone. Looking ahead, we expect our portfolio in the region to cross over 55 hotels by the end of the year, including the addition of a new property in Bangladesh. This year we will see a strong footprint expansion with 8 new openings and 1200 new keys across leisure and city locations in the region. We recently introduced the JdV by Hyatt brand in India, with the opening of Ronil Goa marking a significant milestone in our journey. Our goal is to maintain a balanced portfolio, and expand thoughtfully.