With nomad visas and work-from-home becoming the norm, the flourishing of homestays seemed almost natural. Many saw this as an opportunity to explore a new city and find themselves a quaint home to connect with the local communities. With homestyle food and the comfort of lounging on a sofa in the living room or enjoying your very own private pool, patio and garden, the calmness of these homestays became more appealing. But it isn’t only for a single person, rather bungalows, havelis and farmhouses have seen an increase in demand. Nights booked at such properties have reportedly increased by over a whopping 30 per cent at Airbnb’s Indian homestay options from 2019 to 2021. The Rise of homestays Owing to India’s vast beauty, landscape, heritage, and architecture, the homestay market has been able to seamlessly capitalise on this diversity. Another silver lining these homestays offer are larger spaces compared to compact hotel rooms, while being lighter on the pocket. From cosy hill homes in Uttarakhand and Himachal to havelis in Rajasthan, tea gardens in Darjeeling and the pristine beaches of Goa you can find a myriad of homestays across the country. The truth remains that today, thanks to portals like Airbnb, Agoda, Booking.com, homestays are getting their due. Online platforms and technology have been pivotal in the exponential growth of the homestay industry in India believes Parulekar. “These platforms serve as dynamic marketplaces, connecting hosts with travellers worldwide. They have streamlined the booking process, providing transparency, real-time availability, and user reviews. This digital evolution has empowered travellers, making homestay accommodations easily accessible and fostering a diverse hospitality landscape.” Shambhavi Singh believes that technology and such platforms, provides an accessible marketplace for hotel owners to increase their visibility through virtual tours, real time communication and secure payment options.“Collaborating with travel portals online also expands a property’s reach to engage with potential clients all over the world.” Increasingly, people travel to explore local culture and experience places while they travel to any destination. Homestays provide a personal touch and a unique chance for travellers to immerse themselves in the local culture and traditions of India that resonates with the evolving preferences of modern Indian travellers. While they do provide profits to the former, they provide numerous benefits to the guests as well.An increasingly large number of individuals are opting to explore the local culture of space with the help of these homestays that are bringing them closer to a unique experience. In the realm of luxury travel, experiences are a major driving force to explore the unexplored. When it comes to the hotels versus homestays debate it seems as though cosy homestays present an alluring choice instead of the manufactured comfort of hotels. Staying with local hosts allows guests to interact with them, learn about their customs, taste traditional cuisine, and experience the warmth of Indian hospitality first-hand. While hotels offer luxury, functionality and convenience, homestays offer warmth, the luxury of space and allow you to be in touch with the roots of that location. TreeHouse Hotels & Resorts create unique Treehouse Experiences at each location for guests to explore the destinations. Although the industry has seen a rise globally, in India, curated and tailormade hyperlocal experiences, locally sourced food, privacy, and a dash of history are becoming the hallmarks of luxury homestays in India.“Homestay experiences contribute significantly to promoting local tourism and empowering communities in India,” adds Paurlekar. He believes homestays achieve this by encouraging guests to explore offbeat destinations, homestays drive footfall to lesserknown areas in the country, they distribute tourism benefits more evenly. “Additionally, the direct involvement of local communities in hosting and guiding enhances socio-economic growth, creating a positive impact on grassroots development. It’s a fantastic reciprocal effort where locals gain employment opportunities and a platform to display their hospitality skills, while guests have the chance to engage with the community and savour authentic local delicacies, creating unique and memorable experiences.” Further highlighting the benefits homestays offer Shambhavi Singh believes “A smaller inventory makes it easier for us to cater to their preferences, from curating cooking classes of regional dishes or a heritage bicycle tour through the old city to their itineraries. It is challenging to preserve the charm of a heritage property with constant enhancement to incorporate modern facilities.” In essence homestays offer varied experiences that hotels seldom do – and often aren’t equipped to provide. Homestays as a lucrative business Luxury hotels often require a hefty investment, on the contrary creating a homestay is far easier. Many individuals are converting their family home and holiday homes to a homestay included restoring its interior decor, floorings, and ceilings, while putting in modern amenities. Understanding the limited usage of holiday homes by owners, Jyant further added,“It becomes very difficult for home owners to maintain villas or second homes. A lot of companies in India are today able to look after these assets and create revenue streams for owners by using them as homestays or bed & breakfast places.” Similarly is the case with Royal Heritage Haveil in Jaipur. Reflecting on the past Shambhavi Singh told Luxebook that the Royal Heritage Haveli was her Devendra Parulekar Founder, SaffronStays Jayant Singh Founder & MD, TreeHouse Hotels Treehouse Chail Villas, Chail 30|LUXEBOOK |MAR/APR 2024 MAR/APR 2024 |LUXEBOOK|31
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