Ascentis, a leading advisory and project management firm, has announced the launch of its Hospitality Consulting service, expanding its role in hotel development advisory to support owners from the earliest stages of project planning to bridge the gap between strategy and execution
The new Hospitality Advisory & Consulting business unit is designed to help hotel owners and investors make informed decisions before major capital is committed. It focuses on feasibility, brand strategy, investment advisory, and early-stage development planning— areas that often determine the long-term success of a hospitality asset.
This new vertical is designed to bring greater clarity and discipline to the way hospitality projects are conceived and executed. The consulting offering includes hospitality strategy and feasibility, brand advisory, operator search and contract negotiations, investment and valuation advisory, and concept & development planning – areas that critically influence the long-term performance of a hotel asset.
By extending this into execution, Ascentis aims to provide owners with greater continuity and accountability across the project lifecycle. Under the Consulting vertical, we also provide Asset Management services where, as owner representatives, we ensure operational performance is optimised, as per commitments, meeting the larger owner interests and vision. Ascentis 360 goes beyond traditional project management as we introduce “Innsight,” a structured early-stage advisory package focused on replacing assumption-driven planning with data-backed, owner-led decision-making.
To lead this vertical, Ascentis has appointed Ritu Chawla as Executive Director – Hospitality Advisory & Development.
Ritu brings nearly three decades of experience across hotel operations, asset management, financial advisory, and strategic consulting. She has held senior leadership roles with global hotel brands and has advised owners on market feasibility, asset positioning, and brand integration. Her experience spans pre-openings, revenue performance, and service design, giving her a strong understanding of how early decisions translate into operational outcomes.
Commenting on the launch, Cyril Jacob, Managing Director, Ascentis Group, said, “Many hotel projects face challenges because critical decisions are made too late or based on incomplete information. With this vertical, we are stepping in earlier to help owners define the right product, align with the right brand, and plan capital more realistically from day one.”
Ritu Chawla added, “Hotels are long-term capital-intensive investments. Getting the fundamentals right at the beginning—market positioning, brand fit, and capital planning— has a direct impact on performance. Having worked across hotel operations, pre-opening, advisory, and development, I’ve seen how early-stage decisions directly shape long-term performance. Our focus is to help owners not just make these decisions with clarity and confidence, but carry that thinking through to execution with accountability. That continuity is still rare in the industry, and is what we are building at Ascentis.”
The new vertical builds on Ascentis’ experience in delivering hotel projects across markets and brands. By combining development expertise with operational and commercial insight, Ascentis aims to support the creation of well-aligned, high-performing hospitality assets.
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