Mumbai, May 18, 2016: Always wanted to explore the North-East but hesitated to travel? You are not alone. While the North-Eastern region has gained visibility and appreciation among Indian travellers, it’s actual share of domestic tourist inflow in India is still less than 5%. A big factor deterring travellers is the lack of trusted and quality hotel accommodation. But in the last few months OYO, India’s largest branded network of hotels, has made significant investments to expand its presence in key tourist destinations such as Gangtok and Darjeeling. OYO now offers more than 250 standardized rooms in Gangtok and Darjeeling, to meet a range of budgets – from as low as Rs. 999 per night for standard rooms, to premium rooms for Rs. 2500 – Rs. 4000 per night.
OYO Rooms are available in popular tourist spots like Tiger Hills and Mall Road in Darjeeling, and Tsango Lake, MG Marg in Gangtok. These hotels are situated in prime locations, and travellers can enjoy the scenic view of the Himalayan range, including the breathtaking snow-peaks of Kanchenjunga, straight from their rooms.
Speaking on OYO’s future plans in the region, Ritesh Agarwal, Founder and CEO, OYO said, “We are thrilled to establish a strong network in the beautiful cities of Darjeeling and Gangtok. Our teams have worked very hard to deliver OYO’s level of tandardization and predictability of guest-experience in the hotels here. Many travellers who want to visit the North-east hesitate due to concerns about lack of trusted accommodation options. It makes me very happy to assure them that with OYO now present in this region, they can plan their travel without any worry. The hospitality sector is still underdeveloped in the North-East and we are certain that the introduction of OYO’s standardized affordable stays will attract more tourists. We look forward to welcoming guests from across the country.”
Speaking about the current business trends Ritesh added, “We receive queries for North-East from across the country, but Darjeeling and Gangtok receive the highest number of queries from Kolkata (40%), followed by Gujarat, Maharashtra and Delhi (15% each). Kolkata accounts for 30% of the bookings in Darjeeling and Gangtok while Delhi contributes 12% bookings in the region. This summer season we have also witnessed interest from Hyderabad, with the city accounting for nearly 10% of our bookings in Darjeeling. With growing penetration of smartphones, 65% of the bookings for these destinations are driven by our mobile app.”
OYO has also tied up with local travel agents to provide comprehensive tour packages with highly customized transportation, sightseeing and stay solutions.
Corporate Comm India (CCI NewsWire)
