INDIA’S booming hotel operator, OYO Rooms aims to open 500 sites in Britain as part of its expansion strategy.
Founded by Ritesh Agarwal, 25, the company already operates 35 hotels in the UK.
The hospitality firm plans to expand its business aggressively in the next 24 months in a direct challenge to hospitality giants- Premier Inn and Travelodge in the British market.
Jeremy Sanders, the co-founder of restaurant chain Coco di Mama is responsible to manage and expand OYO business in the UK.
The six year old business has already raised over £775 million from investors including SoftBank and Airbnb.
India’s one of the leading start-up valued at £3.84 billion by a funding round led by Japan’s SoftBank in 2018.
The firm operates over 8,500 hotels in India and has significant presence in China, Indonesia, and the United Arab Emirates (UAE).
OYO doesn’t build or own hotels. It approaches the independent hotel owners and offers to invest to improve their business. Thus, the hotels are re-branded as OYO Rooms.
OYO is responsible to upgrade, reshape, and alter the hotel rooms to improve the facilities in a bid to attract more customers and ultimately improve the hotel business significantly.
Diwali celebration tomorrow kicks off business with ticketed workshops and networking.
Model taps into growing demand for inclusive, heritage-focused experiences.
Platform targets not just south Asians seeking cultural connection, but everyone.
Creating cultural belonging
Priyanka Patel, curator of The Empowered Desi, a new events platform for south Asians seeking cultural connection, is here with a Diwali celebration on Saturday (18) at Fargo Village in Coventry. The venture was born from personal experience – Patel felt "isolated and neglected" growing up without many south Asian friends. Spotting a gap in the market, she's now building a business around creating inclusive spaces for south Asians regardless of religious or regional background.
Diwali-themed , Paint N Sip event in Coventry marks the venture's next partnership with local business Sugar and Spice, Patel is offering a ticketed experience featuring diya decorating workshops, Indian grazing boards with chai, and jewellery stations where guests can take home jhumkas and bangles. The Diwali format combines cultural celebration with networking opportunities, with south Asian attire preferred.
Empowerment through experience
I couldn't talk about the festivals we celebrate, the type of Indian food we have, and also the clothes we wear for special occasions," Patel told BBC."I felt that I couldn't express my individuality, which in turn affected my confidence and self-worth." She realised that lack of cultural belonging represented an untapped market.
The business model centres on experiential events that blend tradition with social connection. The first workshop held on September (20) focused on bento cake decorating, a trendy format paired with south Asian networking. Patel aims for attendees to "feel empowered and inspired."
With South Asian Heritage Month highlighting the importance of cultural spaces, The Empowered Desi positions itself at the intersection of community building and commercial viability. Patel's betting that others share her experience and are willing to pay for a sense of belonging.
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