SUNDAY Hotels Sets Sights on 100 Global Properties
ORAVEL STAYS, OYO'S parent company, plans to expand its premium brand, SUNDAY Hotels, to 100 properties globally by fiscal year 2026, according to a PTI report. The four- and five-star brand, launched in May 2023 as a SoftBank-Oravel Stays joint venture, has expanded to 10 countries with 30 hotels.
The brand is present in India, the UK, Saudi Arabia, the UAE, Bahrain, Indonesia, Malaysia, Thailand, the Philippines and Vietnam.
The initiative is part of Oravel’s strategy to grow its premium hotel footprint globally, PTI reported, citing a spokesperson. "There are 30 SUNDAY Collection hotels already open across 10 countries, including India, and the company plans to ramp up expansion in FY26, targeting 100 hotels," the spokesperson said.
Sunday Hotels debuted in India in Jaipur, Rajasthan, followed by expansions into key business and leisure destinations, including Vadodara, Gujarat, Chandigarh, Punjab, and Gurugram, Haryana. Currently, Oravel Stays operates 13 SUNDAY Hotels across India. Initially focused on non-metro cities, it now plans to expand into metro areas.
SUNDAY Hotels' global expansion began last August with SUNDAY Holiday International Hotel in Dubai, followed by SUNDAY Lansbury Heritage Hotel in the UK. "The rapid expansion of SUNDAY Hotels across key markets has been driven by strong consumer demand and strategic partnerships," the spokesperson told PTI.
SoftBank is Oyo’s largest shareholder with a 46.62 percent stake, while founder Ritesh Agarwal owns 33.15 percent.
In February, OYO announced a $62 million, three-year investment to expand its premium UK portfolio, adding 1,000 jobs through acquisitions and long-term leases.
Oravel Stays completed its $525 million acquisition of G6 Hospitality from Blackstone Real Estate in December. G6 Hospitality also launched a franchisee engagement initiative earlier this year and plans to host over 15 regional meetings nationwide by year-end.
Founded in India in 2012 by Agarwal, Oyo expanded domestically before entering Europe, the U.S., and the Americas in 2019.
Canadian traveler picks Pakistan’s hospitality over India’s
Pakistan Beats India in Hospitality, Says Canadian Vlogger
INDIA IS KNOWN for “Atithi Devo Bhava,” meaning "The guest is God," but some foreigners disagree. A Canadian man, when asked to choose between India and Pakistan for better hospitality, picked Pakistan without hesitation.
His brief interview with an Instagram user has since gone viral, Hindustan Times reported.
Instagram user @officialnamour, known for vox pop videos, recently asked Canadian traveler Nolan Saumure about "desi" hospitality. Saumure, a Canadian travel vlogger, has visited dozens of countries, including India, Pakistan, Sri Lanka, Mexico, Indonesia, the U.S. and Vietnam.
When asked, “India or Pakistan—which has better hospitality?” Saumure instantly replied, "Pakistan, obviously."
He explained that Indians often see foreigners as wealthy customers, while Pakistanis offer warm hospitality, inviting tourists into their homes and offering food.
"You go to India, and people just see you as a walking ATM," Saumure said. "You go to Pakistan, and people are like, 'Oh, come here, sit. Take this free food. Come sleep at my place.'"
The video has more than 4.4 million views and hundreds of comments, many agreeing with Saumure.
"As an African living in Dubai, I agree with him. Pakistanis are friendlier than Indians. Pakistanis see you as a friend, while Indians see you as a stranger," one user commented. Another added simply, “I agree (I’m Indian).”
“India gets a lot of tourists, so we’re used to it and have built an economy around them,” another Instagram user said. “Pakistan gets only a few hundred tourists a year, so seeing a foreigner is a big deal for them.”
Some criticized Saumure’s opinion, some with racial overtones.
“Why do whites expect princess treatment from Indians after stealing $45 trillion from India?” one user asked.
A whitepaper by the Confederation of Indian Industry and EY projects India’s tourism and hospitality sector will create 6.1 million jobs by 2034. It currently accounts for 8 percent of total employment.