Shobu J. Mathew
Founder, Hospitality Growth Strategist & Commercial Excellence Advisor
About Shobu
Shobu J. Mathew is a hospitality growth strategist and commercial excellence advisor with over 36 years of leadership experience across luxury hotels, travel businesses, hotel development, and commercial advisory. As the Founder of SJM Growth Advisory, he partners with hotel owners, hospitality brands, operators, and travel businesses to strengthen commercial performance through practical strategies in sales, marketing, revenue management, distribution, and brand positioning. Having led commercial functions for some of the world's leading hospitality brands, Shobu combines operational expertise with strategic business thinking to help hospitality organizations achieve sustainable growth, stronger market positioning, and long-term profitability.
Professional Experience
Shobu's career spans every major commercial function within hospitality, providing him with extensive expertise across hotel operations, sales, marketing, revenue management, distribution strategy, hotel openings, inbound tourism, and business development. He began his hospitality journey with Hyatt Hotels in New Delhi before progressing into senior leadership positions with InterContinental Hotels Group, Kuoni India, Shangri-La Hotels & Resorts, The Lalit Hotels, The Zuri Hotels & Resorts, and Bloom Hotels.
Most recently, he founded SJM Growth Advisory, where he advises hospitality businesses on commercial strategy, revenue optimization, brand positioning, team development, and sustainable business growth. His experience building Bloom Hotels from just six hotels to more than 100 properties gives him practical insight into scaling hospitality businesses while maintaining commercial discipline and operational excellence.
Key Achievements
Founder of SJM Growth Advisory, providing strategic commercial advisory services to hotel owners, hospitality brands, travel businesses, and growth-stage companies.
Played a key commercial leadership role in the expansion of Bloom Hotels from 6 hotels to over 100 hotels across India.
Held senior commercial leadership positions including Vice President of Sales & Marketing at The Zuri Hotels & Resorts and The Lalit Hotels, Director of Sales & Marketing at Shangri-La Hotels & Resorts and InterContinental Hotels Group, and General Manager – Marketing at Kuoni India.
Successfully led commercial planning, sales, marketing, revenue management, distribution strategy, hotel openings, and business development across luxury and mid-market hospitality brands.
Delivered hospitality sales training and commercial leadership development programs as a Knowledge Partner & Sales Trainer.
Holds postgraduate qualifications in International Tourism & Hotel Management along with executive certifications from the Indian Institutes of Management (Ahmedabad and Bangalore) in Sales, Marketing, Distribution, and Leadership Coaching.
Shobu brings more than three decades of practical hospitality leadership, making him uniquely qualified to guide independent hotels, hotel owners, and hospitality entrepreneurs through today's evolving commercial landscape. Having successfully managed hotel openings, luxury hotel sales, revenue management, distribution, marketing, and large-scale business expansion, he understands the operational and commercial challenges that independent hotels face every day.
His advisory approach focuses on helping hospitality businesses build stronger commercial foundations by aligning sales, marketing, revenue management, and business development into one unified growth strategy. Rather than offering theoretical consulting, Shobu provides practical, experience-driven solutions that improve revenue performance, strengthen brand positioning, optimize distribution channels, and build high-performing commercial teams capable of delivering sustainable long-term growth.