Oyo Enters the Premium Resorts Business With New Brand
25.08.2023 - 13:12
/ skift.com
/ Amrita Ghosh
/ With New
Budget hotel operator and aggregator Oyo has forayed into the premium resorts and hotels category with the launch of its new brand, Palette. Oyo plans to have a total of 50 properties by the second quarter of 2024.
The company has started 10 Palette resorts as a pilot in Jaipur, Hyderabad, Digha, Mumbai, Chennai, Manesar and Bengaluru, Oyo said in a statement.
“The expansion will encompass destinations like Delhi-NCR, Kolkata, Amritsar, Shimla, Goa, Udaipur, Pune, Mussoorie, Srinagar and Kochi,” it added.
“Today, travelers are seeking more than just a place to stay; they are craving unique and memorable experiences. This paradigm shift, fueled by rising disposable incomes, has prompted us to diversify our portfolio and introduce the Palette brand,” said Anuj Tejpal, chief merchant officer of Oyo.
Oyo aims to increase its premium hotel footprint under brands such as Townhouse Oak, Oyo Townhouse, Collection O and Capital O in 2023. The company plans to add 1,800 new properties as part of its premiumization by the end of 2023.
Last month, the company said it will add over 1,000 hotels to support over 100 first-generation hoteliers’ growth by December as part of its accelerator program. Oyo said to cater to the growing demand, it is now focusing on hoteliers planning to expand their business in top leisure travel destinations such as Shimla, Udaipur, Goa, Mysore, among others.
Vistara’s merger with Tata Group-owned Air India is on track and the airline expects to receive all regulatory approvals by April 2024, CEO Vinod Kannan said.
Last November, Tata Sons and Singapore Airlines announced the merger of Vistara with Air India to drive synergies and grab market share in a fast-growing domestic market. The transaction is under the scrutiny of antitrust regulator Competition Commission of India over competition concerns in the aviation sector. The watchdog has issued a show-cause notice to Air India to explain its position and asked the company for clarification on why the merger should not be investigated.
Vistara is a joint venture between Tata and Singapore Airlines. Singapore Airlines will own 25.1% of Air India after the merger.
InterContinental Hotels Group (IHG) has opened a 192-room Holiday Inn Lucknow Airport in the north Indian state of Uttar Pradesh. Last month, the company opened a 98-room Holiday Inn Katra Vaishno Devi in Jammu & Kashmir and signed a management agreement with AHG Hotels & Resorts to develop a 300-room Holiday Inn Resort Kasauli in Himachal Pradesh.
The hospitality major plans to add more hotels in India, especially in the luxury segment. IHG signed two properties under the voco brand in the leisure destinations of Jim Corbett and Gurugram, both expected to open in 2024. Under