Marriott International has announced the appointment of Gautam Bhandari as Chief Development Officer for the Asia Pacific excluding China (APEC) region, effective January 1, 2026. With over two decades of leadership experience across multiple sectors, Gautam brings a deep understanding of the hospitality business, strategic expansion, and market development.
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A Vision for Growth Across APEC
In his new role, Gautam will lead the implementation of Marriott’s strategic growth plans across the APEC region, which currently includes more than 650 operational hotels under 25 brands in 22 countries, with over 380 hotels in the development pipeline. His leadership will cover key markets such as Australia, India, Indonesia, Japan, the Philippines, New Zealand, Malaysia, the Maldives, Singapore, South Korea, Thailand, and Vietnam.
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A Distinguished Career with Marriott
Gautam joined Marriott International in 2007 as Area Director of Revenue and has since held several leadership roles spanning revenue management, hotel operations, sales, marketing, and development. Since 2023, he has served as Senior Vice President, Development and Operations, where he successfully managed dual responsibilities in Development while overseeing the operations of Marriott’s Premium and Select brands in Singapore and the Maldives.
Continuity in Global Leadership
Gautam succeeds Shawn Hill, who will transition to the role of Executive Vice President and Chief Development Officer, Global, in early 2026. His appointment reinforces Marriott’s commitment to nurturing leadership from within and driving its long-term development strategy across the Asia Pacific region.
