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Year-end travel more affordable in 2017: Oyo
MUMBAI: Oyo hotels has launched its analysis report which reveals that tariffs in its hotels across top leisure destinations in India are six per cent lower this December than last year. This is in line with the company’s mission of making quality living spaces more affordable for travellers. While hotels in a majority of holiday destinations have become more affordable than before, there are some destinations witnessing higher tariffs due to sustained traveller interest and constraints of quality hotels.
The data indicates that room tariffs have come down in Darjeeling (29 per cent), Srinagar (23 per cent), Kovalam (22 per cent), Lonavala (16 per cent), and Jaisalmer (15 per cent) due to high demand.
Hill stations witnessed the greatest drop in tariffs, thanks to the emergence of new guest houses and alternate branded hospitality accommodation. Kasauli and Gangtok tariffs are nearly 30 per cent lower, while Dharamshala (-13 per cent), Lonavala (-16 per cent) and Ooty (-10 per cent) are also showed a drop.
Oyo has done aggressive capacity addition, making hospitality affordable for the masses. The increase in affordability has led to higher occupancies wherein the start-up has created value for its hotel partners. Despite an aggressive pricing model across the network, Oyo has delivered higher-than-industry occupancy of 80 per cent across its network.
With hotels in 230-plus cities, Oyo is India’s largest hotel network that has recorded more than five million check-ins till date. Backed by its data science and pricing technology, it also identified the most-expensive and most-affordable localities for budget hotels in top travel destinations.
Brands
IndiGo names William Walsh CEO
Former IATA chief to take charge in August after Elbers exit, Bhatia steers interim
India’s biggest airline has moved fast and gone global. InterGlobe Aviation, which operates IndiGo, has tapped aviation heavyweight William Walsh as chief executive officer, subject to regulatory approvals, marking a sharp pivot as the carrier eyes its next burst of expansion.
Walsh, currently director general at the International Air Transport Association, will step down on July 31, 2026, and is expected to take charge by August 3. The appointment comes barely three weeks after Pieter Elbers exited the corner office, with Rahul Bhatia holding the fort in the interim.
The choice signals intent. Walsh brings decades of cockpit-to-boardroom experience, having led British Airways and later International Airlines Group, the parent of Aer Lingus, Iberia and Vueling. His tenure across carriers has been defined by hard resets, restructurings and cross-border consolidation—skills IndiGo may need as competition intensifies and scale becomes decisive.
Vikram Singh Mehta, chairman and non-executive independent director of IndiGo, said Walsh’s experience in managing large-scale airline operations and navigating complex market dynamics makes him well-suited to lead IndiGo in an increasingly competitive global aviation environment, adding that the appointment marks a new chapter as the airline scales in one of the world’s fastest-growing markets.
Rahul Bhatia said Walsh’s global perspective, operational expertise and customer-focused approach would be critical as IndiGo enters its next phase of expansion.
Walsh, widely regarded as one of the industry’s most influential figures, will oversee overall management and strategic direction, with a mandate spanning operational performance, network expansion, commercial strategy and customer experience. He is expected to work closely with the board and leadership team to sharpen IndiGo’s growth trajectory.
Walsh said IndiGo has a strong foundation and is well-positioned to capitalise on the evolving aviation landscape, adding that he looks forward to fostering a culture of excellence, innovation and sustainable value creation across the organisation.
A new captain, a bigger runway—and a market that rewards scale. IndiGo is lining up for its next take-off.
