Hilton has promoted Jacob Purackal to Vice President of Development, South Asia. Purackal previously served as Senior Director of Development for India, Nepal, Bangladesh and Bhutan, a position he held since March 2022, and has been with Hilton since 2012.
Based at Hilton’s regional office in Gurugram, Purackal has played a role in the company’s hotel development and brand expansion in India through management agreements and franchise partnerships. His experience covers owner identification and engagement, relationship management, negotiations and the structuring of hotel agreements, with development activity spanning luxury, lifestyle and broader market segments.
This leadership change supports Hilton’s growth trajectory, contributing to executive movements in hotels.
More Than a Decade with Hilton
Purackal joined Hilton in May 2012 as Director of Development, at a time when the group had four operating hotels in India.
Since then, Hilton’s portfolio in the country has expanded to more than 100 properties either open or under development. During his tenure, Purackal has worked across the company’s development activity as Hilton expanded its presence across major Indian cities and other markets.
His responsibilities have included identifying prospective owners and development partners, managing relationships, negotiating commercial arrangements and structuring management and franchise agreements.
Expanding Hilton’s Brand Portfolio
Purackal’s development work at Hilton has covered multiple brands and segments.
His portfolio has included development milestones such as the signing of Hilton and Hilton Garden Inn Bengaluru Embassy Manyata Business Park. He has also been involved in bringing the first Waldorf Astoria, Curio Collection by Hilton and LXR Hotels & Resorts properties to India.
These assignments have given him exposure to the development of luxury and lifestyle brands alongside hotel concepts aimed at broader market segments.
Bringing New Brands to India
More recently, Purackal was involved in securing licensing agreements that brought Spark by Hilton and Hampton by Hilton to the Indian market.
The agreements form part of Hilton’s expansion across additional segments and markets in India. The first Hampton by Hilton openings in the country are expected as the brand begins its expansion in the market.
His development responsibilities have therefore extended from individual hotel signings to broader brand-entry and expansion initiatives.
Senior Director of Development Role
Before his latest promotion, Purackal served as Senior Director of Development for India, Nepal, Bangladesh and Bhutan from March 2022.
In that position, he was responsible for development activity across the four markets, working with owners and partners on prospective hotel projects and agreements.
The role built on his earlier experience with Hilton in India and placed him across a wider South Asian development mandate before his elevation to Vice President of Development, South Asia.
Experience in Hotel Real Estate Advisory
Before joining Hilton, Purackal was Regional Vice President, Business Development & Investments, South Asia at SilverNeedle Hospitality in Mumbai from 2011 to 2012.
Prior to SilverNeedle Hospitality, he spent more than four years as Vice President at Molinaro Koger. His work there covered hotel real estate advisory assignments involving strategic acquisitions and disposals, debt syndication, investment advisory, management contract negotiations, valuations and feasibility studies.
His client portfolio included ITC Hotels, Orchid Hotels, developers and financial institutions. This experience provided exposure to the investment, valuation and contractual aspects of the hotel real estate sector.
Early Career in India
Purackal began his career at Cushman & Wakefield in India as a Senior Account Manager.
Before that, he held an initial marketing role at Geometric Software. His early professional experience established a foundation in account management and business development before his move into hospitality and hotel real estate advisory.
He subsequently developed specialist experience across hotel investments, transactions, feasibility studies and management contracts, which later became relevant to his development career.
South Asia Development Mandate
As Vice President of Development, South Asia, Purackal will oversee Hilton’s development activities across the region.
His responsibilities will include working with hotel owners and partners on new projects, brand expansion and management and franchise agreements. The role will also involve supporting Hilton’s development pipeline and identifying opportunities across the company’s portfolio of brands.
His previous experience across India and the wider South Asian markets provides continuity as he takes on the broader regional mandate.
Focus on Partnerships and Expansion
Purackal’s new position combines his experience in hotel development with the owner and partner relationships that underpin management and franchise-led growth.
His career at Hilton has included involvement in the introduction and expansion of multiple brands in India, while his earlier work in hotel real estate advisory provided experience in transactions, valuations, feasibility studies and management contract negotiations.
At Hilton, his focus will now extend across South Asia as the company continues to develop its hotel portfolio through new projects and partnerships.
