Founder Profile
Ritesh Agarwal, an Indian entrepreneur, is best known as the founder and CEO of OYO Rooms, one of the world’s largest hospitality chains. Born on November 16, 1993, in Cuttack, India, Agarwal embarked on his entrepreneurial journey at a young age. Dropping out of college, he founded Oravel Stays in 2012, which later rebranded as OYO Rooms.
Entrepreneur Journey:
Agarwal’s entrepreneurial journey is characterized by his audacious vision and relentless pursuit of disrupting the hospitality industry. OYO Rooms started as a budget hotel aggregator but quickly expanded its offerings to include vacation rentals, homes, and corporate accommodations. Agarwal’s innovative business model and focus on affordability and quality propelled OYO’s rapid growth and global expansion.
Despite facing skepticism and challenges in scaling the business, Agarwal remained steadfast in his commitment to democratizing hospitality and making travel more accessible to everyone. His strategic partnerships, technology-driven solutions, and relentless focus on customer satisfaction helped OYO emerge as a dominant player in the global hospitality market.
Current Stage:
Today, OYO Rooms operates in over 80 countries, with thousands of properties under its management, catering to millions of travelers worldwide. Under Agarwal’s leadership, the company continues to innovate and adapt to changing market dynamics, expanding its portfolio of offerings and enhancing the overall guest experience.
As Ritesh Agarwal famously said, “Dream big, start small, but most importantly, start.”
