Mumbai, 3 November 2025: JLL India, the country’s leading real estate professional services firm, has appointed Gaurav Sharma as Head of Hotels & Hospitality Group for India and Senior Director, Hotel Capital Markets, Asia. In this strategic role, Sharma will spearhead JLL’s hospitality business in India, leveraging two decades of experience in real estate investment and hotel transactions.

Based in Delhi, he will report to Nihat Ercan, CEO, JLL Hotels & Hospitality Group, Asia Pacific. Sharma’s appointment marks his return to JLL, where he previously led Capital Markets for North India (2006–2012). His leadership comes as India’s hospitality sector experiences strong momentum driven by rising occupancy rates, RevPAR growth, and expanding investments.

According to JLL’s analysis, the Indian hotel industry saw a 10.5 per cent year-on-year rise in RevPAR as of September 2025, supported by 182 hotel signings totalling 22,469 keys in the first half of the year—a 16 per cent increase from 2024. The market’s growth is led by Tier 2 and Tier 3 cities, with investment volumes forecast to reach USD 450 million in 2025 and USD 1 billion by 2028.

“Gaurav’s appointment reinforces JLL’s commitment to strengthening our hospitality expertise in India,” said Nihat Ercan. “His deep understanding of domestic and international markets, combined with strong transaction experience, positions him perfectly to guide our clients in this dynamic sector.”

Sharma brings nearly 20 years of experience in real estate, asset management, and hospitality investment, having led strategic acquisitions and portfolio turnarounds. Before rejoining JLL, he served as Vice President – Real Estate, Head Asset Management and M&A at The Indian Hotels Company (IHCL), and earlier as Vice President – Head of Investments at SAMHI Hotels, where he played a key role in building SAMHI’s hotel portfolio.

“I am delighted to return to JLL and lead our hospitality practice during this exciting phase of growth,” said Gaurav Sharma. “India’s hotel sector is poised for transformation, and we aim to deliver strategic value to clients while driving sustainable expansion.”