Aviral Gupta becomes CEO; Chouhan named Zo chairman.

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Zo World, the Web3-driven travel-tech venture that’s been quietly disrupting the way we think about global hospitality, just made a bold move. Aviral Gupta, a name that’s been orbiting the tech-startup universe for a while, is stepping in as the new CEO. And no, this isn’t your average corporate shuffle. It’s a statement. A shift in gears. Possibly even a reset.

Meanwhile, Dharamveer Chouhan—the mind who co-founded Zo World and steered it through its early chaos and breakthroughs—isn’t stepping away; far from it. He’s stepping above, transitioning into the role of Chairman. His new mission? Think bigger. Build bolder. He’ll now focus on zooming out: long-term strategy, heavyweight partnerships, and pushing Zo’s vision into the future.

1. Leadership Shift Aims to Fuel Global Expansion

Zo World isn’t playing small anymore. What started as an offshoot of Zostel—India’s original playground for backpackers—has morphed into something altogether more ambitious. We’re talking metaverse-meets-travel realness: NFT-powered travel passports, community-owned travel assets, and a platform that doesn’t just book your stay but reimagines what staying even means.

This leadership switch isn’t just optics. It signals intent. Zo World wants to go global, and it wants to do it with speed, style, and solid execution. That’s where Aviral comes in. With deep roots in product innovation and a résumé that includes leading hyper-growth startups, his elevation feels less like a promotion and more like a tactical play. He knows how to build things that scale—and more importantly, things that stick.

If all goes as it seems, Zo World might not just be another travel-tech startup dabbling in Web3. It might end up being the one that makes it work.

“Zo World is entering a new phase of growth. With Aviral taking charge as CEO, I’ll now focus on big-picture thinking—forming alliances, envisioning future opportunities, and nurturing the community vision we started with,” said Dharamveer Chouhan in a LinkedIn post.

2. What Is Zo World?

Zo World is building a decentralized travel ecosystem that aims to disrupt traditional hospitality models. It allows users to:

• Book exclusive global stays using $ZOMI tokens
• Access NFT-powered travel experiences
• Join a community-based model where users can own and co-manage travel properties

Since its inception, Zo World has attracted interest from crypto enthusiasts, digital nomads, and tech-savvy travelers. Its model is built on the idea of giving power and ownership back to travelers.

3. Who Is Aviral Gupta?

Aviral Gupta has played pivotal roles in product and operations teams across multiple tech startups before joining Zo World. At Zo World, he’s been instrumental in designing token-based experiences and platform features that merge hospitality with blockchain innovation.

His leadership is expected to bring operational excellence and help the company to make Aviral Gupta CEO-driven, data-driven, and execute strong strategies—a crucial blend for a company exploring uncharted waters like Web3 travel.

4. What’s Next for Zo World?

Under this new leadership, as Aviral Gupta becomes CEO, expansion into global cities is expected to accelerate. New partnerships with metaverse and blockchain platforms may soon be announced, signaling a push into next-generation digital experiences. Creator- and user-owned travel models are also likely to emerge as a core growth lever for Zo World.

• Expansion to global cities is expected to accelerate
• New partnerships with metaverse and blockchain platforms may be announced
• Creator and user-owned travel models will likely become a core growth lever

Zo World has already launched the Zo World Passport NFT, which unlocks curated experiences and airdrops. The product lineup is expected to evolve further under Gupta’s leadership.

5. Web3 Travel and Hospitality: A Growing Space

The Web3 hospitality market is still in its infancy, but has massive potential. Companies like DTravel, Travala.com, and Zo World are early entrants shaping this new vertical.

According to a report by Emergen Research, the global blockchain in travel and hospitality market could reach $9.3 billion by 2032, growing at a CAGR of over 38%. Early adopters stand to benefit from tokenized loyalty programs, decentralized identity verification, and NFT-based travel incentives.

6. Competitive Landscape

Platform	Focus Area	Blockchain Integration
Zo World	Web3 stays, NFT passports	High
DTravel	DAO-based travel booking	High
Travala.com	Crypto hotel bookings	Medium
Zostel	Budget hostels in India	Low

Zo World’s edge lies in blending NFTs, community ownership, and global accommodation, giving it a unique positioning in this growing space.

7. Learnings for Startups and Entrepreneurs

1. Evolve or pivot: Zo World’s move from hostel stays to Web3-enabled travel shows how startups can stay ahead by spotting emerging trends.
2. Leadership refresh matters: Bringing in a new CEO with execution capability while retaining founder vision is a winning combo.
3. Community-first brands win in Web3: Ownership models that give users utility and equity will drive loyalty.
4. Build before the hype: Zo World started laying groundwork before Web3 travel became a buzzword.
5. Stay lean but experimental: Focus on MVPs like Zo Passport to validate ideas before scaling.

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