{"id":205758,"date":"2025-01-01T09:04:01","date_gmt":"2025-01-01T09:04:01","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/news.talkwithrattan.com\/index.php\/2025\/01\/01\/not-shimla-or-manali-oyos-ritesh-agarwal-surprised-by-the-hill-stations-that-took-the-lead-in-new-year-bookings\/"},"modified":"2025-01-01T09:04:02","modified_gmt":"2025-01-01T09:04:02","slug":"not-shimla-or-manali-oyos-ritesh-agarwal-surprised-by-the-hill-stations-that-took-the-lead-in-new-year-bookings","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/news.talkwithrattan.com\/index.php\/2025\/01\/01\/not-shimla-or-manali-oyos-ritesh-agarwal-surprised-by-the-hill-stations-that-took-the-lead-in-new-year-bookings\/","title":{"rendered":"Not Shimla or Manali, OYO\u2019s Ritesh Agarwal surprised by the hill stations that took the lead in New Year bookings"},"content":{"rendered":"
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As New Year 2025<\/a> celebrations unfolded, OYO Rooms<\/a> founder and CEO, Ritesh Agarwal<\/a>, highlighted a trend that caught many by surprise: lesser-known hill stations and spiritual destinations emerged as some of the most-booked spots this season. Agarwal shared the insights through a series of posts on social media, revealing impressive growth in these areas and overall success for the company.<\/p>\n

A Surge in Underdog Hill Stations<\/h2>\n

Agarwal noted that locations often considered underdogs saw substantial increases in bookings, defying typical tourist expectations. “Dehradun & Srinagar become the most booked hill stations, but the underdogs are stealing the show! Coorg<\/a>‘s has witnessed a 28x surge this New Year and Mussoorie<\/a>, the surprise contender, isn’t far behind with a 10x rise in bookings,” he said.<\/p>\n

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\u2014 riteshagar (@riteshagar) <\/p><\/blockquote>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n

Coorg, a picturesque destination in Karnataka, saw a remarkable 28-fold surge in bookings, while Mussoorie, a popular hill station in Uttarakhand, surprised many by recording a 10-fold rise. These trends suggest that travellers are now favouring a broader range of destinations, seeking fresh experiences away from traditional hotspots.<\/p>\n

Spiritual Destinations Gain Popularity<\/h2>\n

Agarwal also observed a notable increase in bookings for spiritual destinations. “Banaras (Varanasi) becomes the most popular spiritual travel destination with 12,841 bookings this NY with Ayodhya<\/a> being the new entrant to top charts this year,” he revealed. He highlighted that Ayodhya, known for its religious significance, is expected to become a leading spiritual destination in the coming months, particularly around the Pran Pratishtha anniversary.<\/p>\n

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\u2014 riteshagar (@riteshagar) <\/p><\/blockquote>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n

Shirdi<\/a>, a famous pilgrimage site, saw a remarkable 940% increase in bookings, while Ajmer experienced a 761% surge. The growing demand for spiritual travel demonstrates a shift towards destinations that offer both cultural and religious experiences, especially during festive seasons like New Year’s.<\/p>\n

Record Bookings and Late-Night Traffic Spikes<\/h2>\n

The success of OYO Rooms in 2025 was further underscored by its global performance during the New Year’s period. Over 10 lakh people used OYO Rooms worldwide on New Year’s Eve, a 58% increase compared to 2023. “The New Year is off to an incredible start, with over 1.1 million travellers staying with us worldwide this NYE<\/a>,” Agarwal said. “It\u2019s clear the world is ready to celebrate, and we\u2019re proud to be part of this exciting journey.”Additionally, OYO saw a significant spike in website traffic, especially during late-night hours. Agarwal shared that there was a 41% increase in traffic at 2 a.m., adding, “Our users are certified night owls: There was a 41% spike in traffic at 2am!”<\/p>\n

Financial Performance and Growth Trajectory<\/h2>\n

The impressive growth in bookings was mirrored by OYO’s strong financial performance. The company reported a net profit of \u20b9132 crore for the first quarter of FY25, a remarkable turnaround from the \u20b9108 crore loss reported in the same period last year. This improvement comes after OYO\u2019s acquisition of G6 Hospitality<\/a>, the parent company of Motel 6<\/a> and Studio 6, which is expected to drive further growth. The deal, valued at $525 million (approximately \u20b94,463 crore), was completed with the aim of strengthening OYO’s presence in the US market.<\/p>\n

The acquisition of G6 Hospitality is expected to have a substantial impact on OYO’s earnings. Ankit Tandon, OYO’s Global Chief Business Officer, stated that the integration of Motel 6 into OYO’s operations is projected to increase the company\u2019s EBITDA to over \u20b92,000 crore by FY26. “Our success in Europe, where we nearly tripled EBITDA through strategic synergies for our vacation homes business, has given us a clear roadmap for value creation,” Tandon added.<\/p>\n

Continued Expansion and Future Outlook<\/h2>\n

Beyond the surge in bookings, OYO is also expanding its global footprint, with a hotel opening every 2-3 days. Agarwal previously noted that around 1 lakh customers book hotels through OYO daily in India, with a similar number overseas. With a strong financial foundation and continued demand for its services, OYO is poised for further growth in 2025 and beyond.<\/p>\n

As OYO\u2019s global presence expands, its commitment to offering diverse travel experiences\u2014from hill stations to spiritual sites\u2014reflects the evolving preferences of today\u2019s travellers. With more people seeking memorable stays in both popular and lesser-known destinations, OYO’s focus on innovation and growth positions the company for continued success in the hospitality industry.<\/p>\n

OYO Rooms has started 2025 on a high note, reporting significant growth in bookings across both leisure and spiritual travel destinations. With a record number of New Year\u2019s Eve bookings, a solid financial turnaround, and the strategic acquisition of G6 Hospitality, the company is well-positioned for continued success in the coming months. As travellers increasingly explore a wider variety of destinations, OYO remains a key player in the evolving global hospitality market.
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