In a significant leadership transition, Zo World has announced the elevation of Aviral Gupta as its new Chief Executive Officer, while Dharamveer Singh Chouhan, Co-founder of Zostel and a pioneer in India’s backpacker travel space, will now serve as Chairman of the Zo World Group.
The move marks a pivotal moment as Zo World gears up for its next phase of growth, targeting aggressive expansion across India and Southeast Asia and unveiling multiple tech-led travel verticals.
A founding member of Zo World and a key architect of Zostel’s success, Aviral has played a central role in building core operations—ranging from hostel launches and tech infrastructure to financial strategy and high-growth verticals. His appointment as CEO follows a planned leadership succession that has been in motion for the past three years.
Aviral Gupta, CEO, Zo World, stated:
“Zo World has never just been about places—it’s about people, philosophy, and finding meaning in movement… We’re entering a phase of hyperscale and deep impact, redefining what travel, community, and ownership mean in today’s world.”
Zo World is now evolving into a borderless lifestyle ecosystem, with the goal of:
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10,000+ beds across 100+ Zostels by 2026
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Scaling Zo Trips to a ₹1,500 crore annual GMV
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Expanding Zo Villas (premium vacation rentals) and Zo Houses (tech-enabled co-living)
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Developing Zo Digital, an AI-powered platform connecting all verticals
In his new role as Chairman, Dharamveer Singh Chouhan will focus on global strategy, visionary partnerships, and guiding the brand’s long-term vision.
Dharamveer Singh Chouhan, Chairman, Zo World Group, said:
“It’s time for me to zoom out and focus on the larger picture… Aviral has been the invisible engine behind Zo, and I’m excited to scale our community across borders while preserving our core belief—Vasudhaiva Kutumbakam.”
With this leadership realignment, Zo World is positioning itself for its next transformation—Zostel 2.0—transitioning from a backpacker pioneer to a full-stack, tech-driven lifestyle and travel brand.
