Marriott International has appointed Gautam Bhandari as Chief Development Officer for Asia Pacific, effective January 2026. Overseeing expansion across key markets like India, Japan, Australia, and Thailand, Bhandari will lead Marriott’s 380-property pipeline on top of its existing 650 hotels. His appointment signals Marriott’s ambitious strategy to strengthen its luxury and select-service presence while driving sustainable growth across one of the world’s fastest-evolving hospitality regions.