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

Beechfield House, a Grade II Victorian property in Wiltshire, England, with Italian Renaissance architecture, acquired by Bird Group for Roseate Hotels in 2025
Photo credit: Beechfield House

Step Into Luxury: Bird Group Adds Beechfield House to Roseate 2025

Bird Group’s 2025 Expansion: Beechfield House Joins Roseate Hotels

BIRD GROUP, PROMOTER and operator of Roseate Hotels & Resorts in India and the UK, acquired Beechfield House, a Grade II property of “special interest” in Wiltshire, England, as its eighth hotel under the Roseate brand. The property, based on 16th-century Italian Renaissance architecture, was built in 1878 on eight acres and converted into a hotel in the late 1960s.

New Delhi-based Bird Group is led by Chairperson Radha Bhatia, President and Managing Director Vijay Bhatia and Executive Director Gaurav Bhatia.

Keep ReadingShow less
The Claridges New Delhi entrance with IHCL and Claridges Collection branding, reflecting the 2025 partnership for luxury hotel expansion by 2030
Photo credit: The Claridges

IHCL to add 4,500 rooms in fiscal 2026

IHCL’s 2026 Expansion: 4,500 Rooms and Claridges Partnership

INDIAN HOTELS COMPANY Ltd, the parent of Taj Hotels, plans to add 4,500 rooms across more than 30 new properties next fiscal year as part of its goal to exceed 700 properties by 2030, according to a PTI report. Claridges Hotels Pvt Ltd., led by promoter Suresh Nanda, launched the “Claridges Collection” brand, with IHCL managing select properties, including The Claridges, New Delhi.

It plans to expand the boutique luxury brand to more than 20 properties by 2030, starting with Claridges New Delhi, Connemara Chennai and Blue Diamond Pune, the companies said in a joint statement.

Keep ReadingShow less
Nolan Saumure compares India and Pakistan hospitality in viral 2025 video

Canadian traveler picks Pakistan’s hospitality over India’s

Pakistan Beats India in Hospitality, Says Canadian Vlogger

INDIA IS KNOWN for “Atithi Devo Bhava,” meaning "The guest is God," but some foreigners disagree. A Canadian man, when asked to choose between India and Pakistan for better hospitality, picked Pakistan without hesitation.

His brief interview with an Instagram user has since gone viral, Hindustan Times reported.

Keep ReadingShow less
Radisson Hotel Group’s 240-hotel goal in India by 2025 takes shape
Photo credit: iStock

Radisson Aims for 240 Hotels in India by 2025, Doubling Current Portfolio

Radisson Eyes 240 Hotels in India by End of 2025

RADISSON HOTEL GROUP aims to have 240 hotels in India by the end of 2025, up from 129 currently, with 72 in the pipeline, Economic Times reported, citing senior officials. RHG has been implementing a five-year plan since 2018, updating it annually, resulting in a fourfold increase in business volume, both in revenue and development.

Belgium-based RHG is currently the second-largest international hotel company in India, after Marriott International, which has around 150 properties. Choice Hotels International owns Radisson brands in the Americas, including Park Plaza, Country Inn & Suites, and Park Inn by Radisson. Outside the Americas, RHG, an unaffiliated Belgium-based company, owns them.

Keep ReadingShow less
Luxury SUNDAY Hotel, part of Oravel Stays’ 2026 goal of 100 global properties
Photo credit: OYO

Oravel to add 100 SUNDAY Hotels by FY26

SUNDAY Hotels Sets Sights on 100 Global Properties

ORAVEL STAYS, OYO'S parent company, plans to expand its premium brand, SUNDAY Hotels, to 100 properties globally by fiscal year 2026, according to a PTI report. The four- and five-star brand, launched in May 2023 as a SoftBank-Oravel Stays joint venture, has expanded to 10 countries with 30 hotels.

The brand is present in India, the UK, Saudi Arabia, the UAE, Bahrain, Indonesia, Malaysia, Thailand, the Philippines and Vietnam.

Keep ReadingShow less