JLL India Appoints Gaurav Sharma as Head of Hotels & Hospitality Group
JLL India has appointed Gaurav Sharma as Head of Hotels & Hospitality Group for India and Senior Director of Hotel Capital Markets, Asia. Sharma will lead JLL’s hospitality practice in India, capitalizing on the sector’s rapid growth. The Indian hotel market shows strong performance, with a 10.5% rise in RevPAR and significant new development mainly in Tier 2 and 3 cities.
JLL India named Gaurav Sharma as Head of Hotels & Hospitality Group for the country and Senior Director of Hotel Capital Markets in Asia. Returning to JLL after previously leading capital markets in North India from 2006 to 2012, Sharma will be based in Delhi and report to Nihat Ercan, CEO of JLL’s Hotel & Hospitality Group, Asia Pacific. He brings nearly 20 years of experience in real estate and hospitality investments, including leadership roles at The Indian Hotels Company Limited and SAMHI Hotels Ltd. The appointment comes at a time when India’s hospitality sector is growing strongly, marked by a 10.5% year-over-year increase in revenue per available room (RevPAR) as of September 2025, and a record 42,000+ new keys added in 2024. Early 2025 saw 182 hotel signings totaling 22,469 keys, a 16% increase from the previous year, with more than 70% of development occurring in Tier 2 and 3 cities. Investors, including high-net-worth individuals and private owners, are increasingly active, driving transaction volumes forecasted to reach USD 450 million in 2025 and potentially USD 1 billion by 2028. Sharma’s expertise in mergers, acquisitions, and hospitality market dynamics is expected to strengthen JLL’s position and support clients in navigating India’s dynamic hospitality industry.
