Skip to content

Search

Latest Stories

OYO launches brand 'SUNDAY' in UK, UAE

Its serviced hotels business grew 250 percent in its first year, adding 700 hotels since September 2023

OYO launches brand 'SUNDAY' in UK, UAE

ORAVEL STAYS LTD., OYO's parent firm, and SoftBank Group recently launched their premium hospitality brand, SUNDAY, in the United Kingdom and United Arab Emirates. Meanwhile, OYO's serviced hotels business saw 250 percent growth in its first year, adding 700 hotels since September 2023, surpassing its target of 200.

The international expansion is part of OYO's ongoing efforts to strengthen its premium property portfolio globally, the company said in a statement.


"Our data shows growing demand for premium, experience-driven accommodations,” said Puneet Yadav, Oravel’s UK business head. “This strategic move allows us to tap into the luxury segment while maintaining our commitment to delivering value across all price points.”

SUNDAY Lansbury Heritage near Canary Wharf will now be operated by Oravel, the statement said. The 35-room, Grade II listed building dates back to 1628, when the East India Company built its first chapel and almshouses on the site. SUNDAY has also launched in Dubai with the opening of SUNDAY Holiday International Hotel.

Launched in May 2023 in India through a joint venture between SoftBank and Oravel Stays, the premium brand currently has three properties, with plans to expand to 25 by March 2025, OYO said.

SoftBank is OYO's largest shareholder with 46.62 percent, while founder Ritesh Agarwal owns 33.15 percent.

Business growth

The OYO-managed serviced hotels offer property owners the opportunity to partner with OYO for fixed rentals and consistent returns under a trusted global brand, the statement said. Tagged as ‘Company Serviced’ on the OYO app and website, these hotels are part of OYO’s mid-premium and upper-budget brands like Townhouse and Collection O, catering to both business and leisure travelers. OYO actively monitors hotel upkeep and customer reviews to maintain service quality.

The serviced hotels span 124 cities in India, with South India leading growth, home to more than 200 company-serviced hotels, followed by North, Central, East, and West regions. Bangalore, Hyderabad, Kolkata, Jaipur, and Chennai are the top cities for company-serviced hotels. The footprint is expanding in key pilgrim cities like Varanasi, Haridwar, and Puri, and leisure destinations such as Jaipur, Goa, Kochi and Mysore.

“This initiative has driven substantial improvements in key metrics, including occupancy rates and customer experience, leading to a rise in repeat bookings,” said Varun Jain, OYO India's COO. “Additionally, positive customer feedback has surged, with 95 percent of guest reviews expressing satisfaction. Guests frequently highlight the seamless booking experience, modern amenities, and attentive staff as key differentiators.”

In September, Oravel Stays agreed to purchase G6 Hospitality, the franchiser of Motel 6 and Studio 6, for $525 million from Blackstone Real Estate. The company is reportedly raising $200 million to fund OYO's potential acquisition of G6 Hospitality.

More for you

AAIB: Fuel Cutoff Triggered Air India Crash—Preliminary
Photo by Basit Zargar/AFP.

AAIB report: Fuel cutoff triggered Air India crash

Summary:

  • A preliminary report on the June 12 Air India crash in Ahmedabad found fuel to the airplane’s engines was cut off.
  • One pilot asked the other why he cut off fuel, the other denied it.
  • Air India will cut international widebody service by 15 percent through mid-July after the crash.

INDIA’S AIRCRAFT ACCIDENT Investigation Bureau’s preliminary report found that fuel to the Boeing 787-8’s engines was cut off, indicating pilot action may have caused the crash. No actions are recommended for Boeing 787-8 or GEnx-1B operators at this stage.

Keep ReadingShow less
Ranju Alex Marriott Honored with Bharat Gaurav 2025 Award
Tripura Star News

Marriott’s Alex receives Bharat Gaurav 2025

Summary:

  • Ranju Alex, Marriott International’s South Asia VP, received the Bharat Gaurav Award 2025.
  • The award, by the Bharat Gaurav Award Foundation, honors outstanding achievements by Indian nationals.
  • She joins past recipients including Sri Sri Ravi Shankar, Indra Nooyi and Gaur Gopal Das.

Ranju Alex, regional vice president for South Asia at Marriott International, received the Bharat Gaurav Award 2025 at the British House of Commons in London. The award recognizes her work in advancing diversity, inclusion and gender equity in the Indian workplace.

Keep ReadingShow less
Wyndham & Cygnett inks Pact for India Expansion
Photo credit: The Economic Times

Wyndham, Cygnett ink pact for India expansion

Summary:

  • Wyndham and Cygnett signed a 10-year deal to launch La Quinta and Registry Collection Hotels in India, Bangladesh and Sri Lanka.
  • Gurgaon-based Cygnett, founded in 2014, is led by Founder and Managing Director Sarbendra Sarkar.
  • In June, Wyndham CEO Geoff Ballotti announced India expansions at the company’s 2025 Global Conference in Las Vegas.

WYNDHAM HOTELS & RESORTS and Cygnett Hotels & Resorts signed a 10-year deal to launch La Quinta by Wyndham and Registry Collection Hotels in India, Bangladesh and Sri Lanka. The partnership aims to add more than 60 hotels across the region over the next decade.

Keep ReadingShow less
Marriott hotel expansion South Asia

Ventive, Marriott ink 7-hotel deal for India, Sri Lanka

Summary:

  • Ventive Hospitality entered management contracts with Marriott International for seven hotels with 1,548 rooms in India and Sri Lanka.
  • The deal includes brand debuts in Sri Lanka, Varanasi, Pune, Navi Mumbai and Mundra, with plans for a hotel on Ventive’s leasehold land in Mundra.
  • Three properties involve capital expenditure of Rs 700 to 750 crore and are on Ventive’s balance sheet.

VENTIVE HOSPITALITY ENTERED management contracts with Marriott International for seven hotels totaling 1,548 rooms in India and Sri Lanka, all scheduled to open in 2030. The partnership will increase Ventive’s portfolio from 11 hotels in India and the Maldives with 2,000 keys to more than 4,000 keys in four to five years.

Keep ReadingShow less
Open Hotels by Olive launches AI-powered remote hospitality model with US patent filing

India's Olive debuts AI hotel brand ‘Open’

Summary:

  • Olive by Embassy launched Open Hotels, a remote-operated, AI-native brand.
  • Filed a U.S. patent application for its Remote Hotel Management System.
  • Aims to operate 1,000 hotels in India by 2030 and expand globally.

INDIA’S EMBASSY GROUP hospitality arm, Olive, recently launched Open Hotels, a remote-operated, AI-native hotel brand. The sub-brand plans to integrate 130 hotels and generate $23.5 million or Rs 200 crore in revenue this financial year.

Keep ReadingShow less