Hyatt Hotels has appointed Amar Lalvani as the company’s first chief creative officer in an effort to sharpen how each of Hyatt’s brands “come to life through design, experience and culture,” the company announced Wednesday.
Lalvani will take on the newly created role immediately while continuing to serve as president and creative director of the company’s Lifestyle Group, according to a Wednesday news release. Lalvani assumed that role upon joining Hyatt in 2024 after the company’s acquisition of Standard International, where he served as executive chairman.
Lalvani brought with him the team behind The Standard and Bunkhouse Hotels brands, which anchor Hyatt’s Lifestyle Group, per the release. These brands have since expanded to new destinations under Hyatt.
As chief creative officer, Lalvani will work with leaders, developers and creative teams across Hyatt’s global organization, as well as hotel owners, to “connect brand thinking more directly to the experiences guests see, feel and remember,” according to Hyatt.
“Amar has a rare ability to uncover what is distinctive, understand what matters to people and turn those insights into experiences and brands that resonate,” Hyatt CEO Mark Hoplamazian said in a statement. “As we continue to evolve Hyatt into a more brand-focused company, bringing that perspective across the enterprise is a natural next step.”
Lalvani’s appointment “reflects Hyatt’s continued evolution as a more insights-led and brand-focused company” with an aim “to make each Hyatt brand more distinct and give guests a clearer reason to choose it,” according to the release.
“Amar will help us make decisions with greater clarity and conviction, while keeping creativity close to the teams bringing each brand to life,” Hoplamazian added. “Distinctive brands create value — they give guests a stronger reason to choose Hyatt, owners a stronger reason to invest with us, and help create the conditions for higher-quality growth.”
Beyond Standard International, Lalvani has decades of experience building and scaling distinctive hotel brands and experiences, including formerly leading global development for W Hotels, per Hyatt.
