Zo World appoints Aviral Gupta as CEO; co-founder Dharamveer Chouhan becomes chairman

Zo World, the parent company of hostel chain Zostel, has appointed Aviral Gupta as chief executive officer (CEO), with co-founder Dharamveer Singh Chouhan moving into the role of chairman.

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The leadership change comes as the travel and community platform expands across India and Southeast Asia and develops new business lines in technology, lifestyle and creator-led communities.

Gupta joined Zostel in 2014 as a project manager and has held positions including chief strategy officer and head of human resources. He has worked on hostel operations, community programs, product design, technology integration and financial planning.

“Zo World has never just been about places—it’s about people, philosophy, and finding meaning in movement,” Gupta said. “I’ve had the privilege of shaping this journey from day one, and I’m honored to now lead it into its next evolution. We’re entering a phase of hyperscale and deep impact, where we’re not just growing vertically, but redefining what travel, community, and ownership can look like in the modern world.”

According to the company, current focus include improving unit economics, opening new revenue channels and expanding community-led experiences in domestic and overseas markets.

Chouhan co-founded Zostel in 2013 and served as chief executive for more than a decade. As chairman, he will focus on long-term strategy, international growth and institutionalising the company’s philosophy.

“After revolutionising how young Indians travel for more than a decade, I think it is time for me to zoom out and focus on the larger picture,” he said. “Aviral has been the invisible engine behind Zo for years, and I couldn’t be more confident in his capabilities to take this vision forward.”

The announcement follows a recent Supreme Court order in Zostel’s legal dispute with hospitality company OYO. Recently, the court declined to hear a special leave petition filed by Zostel challenging a May 2025 Delhi High Court ruling. The High Court had set aside a 2021 arbitral award that found OYO in breach of a term sheet for its proposed acquisition of ZO Rooms, a budget hotel brand formerly operated by Zostel.

The court said the 2015 agreement between the companies was non-binding and could not be enforced. The Supreme Court dismissed Zostel’s petition as procedurally flawed, stating that the appropriate course was to appeal under Section 37 of the Arbitration and Conciliation Act.

The dispute dates to 2015, when the proposed acquisition collapsed. Under the deal, ZO Rooms’ shareholders were to receive a 7% stake in OYO. The breakdown led to arbitration, criminal complaints and public accusations.

Zo World has said it is focusing on expanding its travel, culture and community offerings for digital-first users. The leadership change, with Gupta as CEO and Chouhan as chairman, is intended to align with those plans.