When Sunil Tilwani started his first job at the age of 17, he didn’t plan on becoming his own boss. He ran his ready-made garment shop for 10 years until 2007 which is when he decided to finally pursue his passion. Armed with self-conviction and the yearning to do something great he invested his entire savings and purchased a property in 2007 which he continued to renovate until 2010. Shortly thereafter he listed his property on OTA’s, however, owing to his limited understanding in hospitality he was unable to earn a profitable margin. In 2014, he decided to begin his association with OYO hasn’t looked back since then!

On his association with OYO, Sunil Tilwani, owner of OYO 4816 Hotel Ganpati Plaza, says, “With no background in the hospitality industry staying afloat was the biggest problem, let alone competing with hotels in Ajmer. We were earlier under the impression that a hotel is run like a guest house offered to guests without them expecting any amenities. It is only in 2014 when we began working with OYO, we understood the basics of hospitality right from the standardization of amenities, the importance of clean linen, etc. Being a tourist city, Ajmer witnesses a lot of travellers who seek a comfortable experience in affordable budgets. The team at OYO upgraded my hotel to the standards set by the company, included WIFI, linen, toiletries, complimentary breakfast, housekeeping among other amenities to cater to guest needs and offer them a warm hospitality experience. Ours is a 28 room property and we plan to open a multi-cuisine restaurant in the near future. We will also expand our property to cater to the premium segment. My association with the entire OYO team has been very fruitful and rewarding.”

Owners like Sunil Tilwani encourage other hotel owners to remember that "Customer is King" and they deserve the best. Further, in a social media-driven world, where people are constantly broadcasting their holiday experience it becomes vital for owners to ensure that the hotels deliver an exceptional service to each and everyone who comes and stays with them. OYO Hotels & Homes has played a huge part here by empowering asset owners to enjoy various benefits, such as support for technology, design, operations, revenue management, marketing and distribution. On average, hotels that become a part of OYO’s chain witness an increase in occupancy from 25% to 65% in a brief period of three months. The tourism industry in Ajmer has been thriving owing to the numerous spots of cultural and religious importance such as Ajmer Dargah, Nasiyan Jain Temple among many others. Utilizing the potential of curating unique experiences for tourists, OYO Hotels & Homes, the young hotel startup, has been redefining the great customer experience and creating micro-entrepreneurs in Ajmer.

To further reinstate their commitment towards it’s 18,000+ strong network of asset owners the company earlier this year launched OYO Partner Engagement Network (OPEN) (only for India), a year-long initiative with 6 core promises. Bridging the gap between demand and supply, OYO has revolutionized the fragmented and legacy-driven budget hospitality space by empowering such passionate asset owners across the globe.

In addition to this, the brand also offers financial support by overhauling the property, extending additional amenities like equipping the hotel with LED televisions, AC, Wi-Fi, CCTV, Dish TV, quality linen, etc. Such initiatives go on to strengthen the economy and thereby also create thousands of jobs in Tier II and III cities.