OYO has made investments to expand its presence in key tourist destinations such as Gangtok and Darjeeling. OYO now offers more than 250 standardised rooms in Gangtok and Darjeeling, to meet a range of budgets. OYO Rooms are available in popular tourist spots like Tiger Hills and Mall Road in Darjeeling, and Tsango Lake, MG Marg in Gangtok.
Speaking on the company’s future plans in the region, Ritesh Agarwal, founder and CEO, OYO, said, “We are thrilled to establish a strong network in Darjeeling and Gangtok. Many travellers who want to visit the North Eeast hesitate due to concerns about lack of trusted accommodation options. It makes me 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 standardised affordable stays will attract more tourists.”
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 per cent), followed by Gujarat, Maharashtra and Delhi (15 per cent each). Kolkata accounts for 30 per cent of the bookings in Darjeeling and Gangtok while Delhi contributes 12 per cent bookings in the region. This summer season, we have also witnessed interest from Hyderabad, with the city accounting for nearly 10 per cent of our bookings in Darjeeling. With growing penetration of smartphones, 65 per cent 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 customised transportation, sightseeing and stay solutions.