CBRE Hotels has expanded its operation with the appointment of industry expert Ritika Diwan as a Director in its Sydney-based Capital Markets team.

An investment and asset management specialist, Ms Diwan enters the Australian market armed with more than 15 years of experience in the hotels sector in India.

Ms Diwan has spent the past nine years with SAMHI Hotels, one of the largest institutional hotel real estate platforms in India, with a focus on investment appraisal and valuation, acquisitions and divestments, investment management and asset management across hotels and resorts.

She earlier worked within McKinsey & Company’s business research division, developing recommendations to support clients in their decision-making processes.

“With extensive experience in acquisitions, asset management, financing and divestment for hotels and lodging assets, we’re thrilled to have Ritika as part of our diverse and growing team,” CBRE Hotels Managing Director Michael Simpson said, "This  appointment will reinforce our ability to provide a market-leading service offering to our clients in the hotels brokerage and advisory sector, where we envisage considerable future opportunities.”

Ms Diwan added: “I’m delighted to be part of the dynamic team at CBRE, "With my experience of executing transactions and managing assets in the hospitality industry, I’m looking forward to collaborating with the team here to continue to deliver growth in this exciting space.”