Seasoned real estate and hospitality investment leader brings two decades of strategic expertise to drive growth in India’s dynamic hospitality sector.
JLL, India’s leading real estate professional services firm, today announced the appointment of Gaurav Sharma as Head of Hotels & Hospitality Group for India and Senior Director Hotel Capital Markets, Asia. In this strategic role, Gaurav will lead the company’s hospitality practice across the Indian market, leveraging his extensive experience to capitalize on emerging opportunities in India’s rapidly evolving hotel and hospitality sector.
Gaurav will be based out of Delhi and will report to Nihat Ercan, CEO, JLL’s Hotel & Hospitality Group, Asia Pacific. Gaurav’s appointment marks his return to JLL India, where he previously led capital markets for North India from 2006 to 2012, and comes at a pivotal time as India’s hospitality sector demonstrates exceptional growth momentum. In his wider Hotel Capital Markets role Gaurav will lean into strategic transactions in Asia, leveraging his considerable M&A and platform experience.
According to JLL analysis, the hotel sector in India has delivered outstanding performance with Revenue per Available Room (RevPAR) surging 10.5% year-over-year as of YTD September 2025, building on 2024’s record-breaking achievements that included over 42,071 new keys and approximately 25 significant investment transactions. This robust trajectory is evidenced by unprecedented development activity, with 182 hotel signings totaling 22,469 keys in the first half 2025, a jump of 16% from the same time last year, reinforcing the sector’s strategic expansion beyond traditional urban centers as more than 70% of new signings concentrate in Tier 2 and 3 cities.
The diverse investor ecosystem that emerged in 2024—led by high-net-worth individuals, family offices, and private hotel owners contributing 51% of transaction volume, followed by listed hotel companies at 34% continues to drive sustained confidence across the market. Given the positive momentum in investment activity, total transaction volume in 2025 is forecast at USD 450 million and JLL is projecting hotel transactions activity to reach USD 1 billion by 2028.
“Gaurav’s appointment reinforces JLL’s commitment to strengthening our hospitality expertise in India, and it’s particularly meaningful to have him return to the JLL family,” said Ercan. “His deep understanding of both domestic and international hospitality markets, coupled with his exceptional transaction experience, positions him perfectly to guide our clients through India’s hospitality sector.
His return also signifies JLL’s continued investment in India’s booming hotel industry, as we build on our presence with dedicated hospitality expertise across our three key offices in Mumbai, Delhi, and Bangalore.”
Gaurav brings with him nearly 20 years of distinguished experience in real estate and hospitality investment, having spearheaded high-value transactions, asset acquisitions, and portfolio turnarounds that consistently drive sustainable growth. His proven track record spans fundraising, asset management, project execution, and organizational leadership, combining financial precision with visionary strategic execution.
Most recently, he served as Vice President – Real Estate, Head Asset Management and M&A at The Indian Hotels Company Limited (IHCL), where he led strategic initiatives across the company’s real estate portfolio. Prior to this, he spent over a decade as Vice President – Head of Investments at SAMHI Hotels Ltd, where he was instrumental in building SAMHI’s hotel portfolio from 2012-2022.
“I am excited to return to JLL and contribute to the continued expansion of our hospitality practice in India,” said Sharma. “The Indian hospitality sector presents tremendous opportunities for growth, and I look forward to working with our clients to unlock value and navigate the evolving market dynamics with strategic precision.”