My Success Mantras
Striving for perfection in the small stuff – building blocks lay the foundation of a strong business. Looking out for new lessons to learn and new milestones to achieve. Recruiting the smartest people – those who challenge you are the ones who will help you make a better product. Cultivating an eye for detail. Staying agile.
My Biggest Learning
If you are genuinely passionate about solving a problem then you have to get behind it and give your 100 per cent. There should be passion and conviction in your approach and the fear of failing should not stop you from taking chances. Even a failed attempt will leave you with a lesson.
My Inspiration in Life
Peter Thiel and Elon Musk. Both are true visionaries of our generation with a courageous ambition to think big.
My Stressbuster
Cycling and yoga.
My Favorite Management Book
Chocolates on the Pillow Aren’t Enough: Reinventing The Customer Experience by Jonathan Tisch.
My Dream Destination
I really want to travel and see the Northern Lights.
USP of OYO Rooms
OYO Rooms has enabled standardised and predictable hotel accommodation to create the largest branded network of hotels in India. Travellers can access our standardised experience, service and amenities across more than 40,000 rooms in over 160 cities in India, at affordable price-points. Every OYO room comes with an assurance of cleanliness and hygiene, free Wi-Fi, complimentary breakfast and 24×7 customer support. Using the OYO Rooms app, one can search and book a room in three clicks and five seconds! Guests can use the OYO Rooms App (over 2.5 million downloads so far) to search and book rooms, request room-service (food, beverages and laundry), book a cab and also search nearby restaurants. Hotel-owners partnering with OYO Rooms see a significant increase in occupancy levels, get access to the world’s first tablet-based property management apps and become part of a brand that is recognised and loved by travellers nationwide. Our tech offerings help run operations more efficiently and also power a convenient revenue-management solution. Our existing hotel partners have witnessed a boost in their occupancy and profits along with a visible reduction in operational cost.
Vision for my Company
Our vision is to become the most preferred and trusted hotel brand in the world.
My Advice to Gen-Next
Research well when you think of a potential business idea. Put yourself in the customer’s shoes. You should be trying to solve a real problem that will make the customer’s life better. That is how you can make a way into their lives, their minds, and their hearts.
– Ritesh Agarwal, CEO and Founder, OYO Rooms
(As told to Sudipta Dev)