India: OYO has announced the expansion of its OYO homes brand into Kevadia, Gujarat, in line with the company’s mandate to expand in the region.
It has currently opened four home-stays in the district, with plans to open over 20 by the end of the year.
The shift is a part of endeavours by the Indian and Gujarati government to increase micro-entrepreneurship opportunities within the region. Micro, small and medium enterprises (MSMEs) account for approximately a third of India’s GDP and 45 per cent of its exports.
CEO Ritesh Agarwal said in a statement: “We, at OYO, are thrilled to be a part of the unique tourism opportunities in Gujarat, and are excited to welcome travellers visiting Kevadia for a comfortable stay at our boutique home-stays which are part of our OYO Home offering in the district. We are committed to Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Gujarat Government’s vision to promote tourism in Kevadia to generate economic and employment opportunities in the district.”
Kevadia’s recent inauguration of jetty and seaplane services, as well as the reopening of tourist sites like the Statue of Unity, has made the town a good site for tourism investment. OYO is hoping that these factors will attract tourists from various nearby cities, including Ahmedabad, Surat, and Vadodara.
Rohit Kapoor, OYO CEO, India and South Asia, said: “Gujarat continues to be one of the strongest markets for us, consistently delivering high results. With our technology, transformation capabilities and deep expertise in standardising amenities, providing quality guest experience, we aim to empower local home-owners to become exceptional hospitality players.”
Despite shaky booking numbers early in the year, OYO has seen a limited recovery in its American and European markets, with Agarwal revealing much of this was due to the company’s holiday homes and boutique-esque hotels. It added 1,200 rooms to its UK portfolio since April, most of which were used to support frontline health staff and key workers.
