In conversation with Husain Khatumdi & Varun Arora from Ekostay
Husain Khatumdi & Varun Arora from Ekostay felicitated for Iconic Most Premium Staycation Getaway
A mid-day recognition for this special category. What does it mean to you?
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Gaining recognition from one of India’s most esteemed print brands has made our efforts in the last year seem worth it. I’ll be honest, getting acknowledged as one of the icons in Travel and Hospitality is definitely going to establish instant trust in our potential customers and stakeholders. Us striving to blend luxury stay at budgeted prices had gained us recognition in the past – but winning this icon felt like we were truly moving in the right direction.
From National to International branding, mid-day Icons have gone bigger this year. What are your thoughts on this and how will it help in your branding?
Ekostay getting recognized as a travel and hospitality icon among some of the most reputed national and international hospitality players is exhilarating. Once you have made it into mid-day’s iconic icon list (forgive the pun here), you know you have managed to set a unique benchmark. Getting featured also gives us the opportunity to gain more visibility and establish trust among potential customers. I don’t know anyone who doesn’t read mid-day, so if our brand name shines in the list, we know it will make an automatic positive impact and instill trust in the reader. I’m only hoping we make it to the list every year!
What do you think are the redeeming features of your services that set you apart from the rest?
We tapped into the Homestay market and made it a one-stop source for our stakeholders. In short, we not only tied-up with homeowners who want to monetize renting spaces, but also took care of their property needs—maintained their property, had staff to help them out, giving them the space to cook/ order their food, and more – all without charging extra costs. Moreover, we ensure that our takeholders and partners get a fair share of the profits made.
The Pandemic situation was a blow on the travel and hospitality services. How did you manage to stay
afloat?
Almost 75% of our business model works on a rental model, and the remaining 25% on an exclusive revenue-sharing model. Due to COVID-19, we saw a drop in direct rentals, but we quickly caught on to
the demand for private spaces and homestays. People wanted to avoid common spaces brimming with large groups of people so naturally, hotels became a no-no. Moreover, as international travel came to a standstill, domestic travel and the curiosity to explore India’s interiors flourished. We were quick to catch on to these changing trends and modify our approach.
Do you think you have achieved your vision or is there more to achieve—your future goals?
I definitely think that we have achieved the visions we had over the years. We were even successful in tackling the changing demands during COVID-19 and earning steady profits. But despite the success, I believe that constant evolution is essential to keep a business booming. I have this fire to expand Ekostay’s horizons and move towards untapped locations. We have pretty much made a memorable mark in the cities in Maharashtra. Now, we want to tap into northern and southern India and expand our inventory. We have already finished establishing villas in hotspots like Manali, Mussoorie, Nainital, Ooty, and others, so we’re off to a great start. The future for us would entail becoming even more customer- centric than before – and that means luxury, privacy, organic food, and a fast internet connection on a budget. I believe we’re going in the right direction despite the nature- bound crossroads ahead of us.
Your success mantra?
Success for me is persistence. It means getting up and doing the work and not waiting for instant results. Once you know you are consistent, the results will arrive. I also believe a strong team is necessary to move in the right direction
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