Pranav Dangi, founder and CEO of The Hosteller – India’s biggest brand-operated chain of backpacker hostels, is the driving force behind the venture. He has reshaped the travel experience for backpackers with his innovative and tech-driven hospitality solutions. With an impressive career spanning over nine years, he has overseen the establishment of 55+ self-operated backpacker hostels across the country establishing The Hosteller as India’s smartest hospitality brand.
His journey as the founder and CEO of Hosteller began in January 2015 and since then, he has transformed it into a thriving network of backpacker hostels that provide a perfect pit-stop for global and local travellers seeking a clean, safe and smart place to stay.
Before founding The Hosteller, Dangi gained valuable experience as a senior analyst at EY, focusing on intangible asset valuation. His proficiency in financial data analysis and mergers & acquisitions laid the foundation for his future ventures. With diverse experience across multiple verticals like wireless technologies, mobile technology, technology integration, and telecommunications, he brings a dynamic approach to shaping The Hosteller.
What inspired you to start The Hosteller in 2015? How did you identify the gap in the Indian hospitality market for backpacker hostels?
The Hosteller was founded in 2014 with the vision of creating affordable, accessible, and community-driven backpacker hostels for the ‘young at heart’ traveller. During my travels across Europe, I experienced how backpacker hostels were thriving as hubs of community and cultural exchange. However, in India despite its rich, diverse culture and increasing number of travellers, there was a noticeable gap in affordable, social accommodations that catered to the growing demand for experiential travel.
I identified this gap through my own backpacking experiences, realising that young travellers, especially solo explorers, were looking for budget-friendly accommodations that offered more than just a bed. They wanted spaces where they could meet like-minded people, share stories, and explore local cultures together. In 2014, while the solo travel trend was beginning to gain momentum, India lacked a standardised hostel chain for this demographic. With solo travel increasing by nearly 40% annually, it was clear there was an opportunity to create something meaningful.
Today, The Hosteller operates over 55 self-operated hostels across India, offering immersive travel experiences that foster community and culture. Our mission is to enable every ‘young at heart’ traveller to see the world, and we continue working toward becoming the world’s largest standardised chain of backpacker hostels.
With over 55 self-operated hostels across India, what have been the key factors driving the rapid expansion of The Hosteller? How do you balance maintaining quality while scaling?
Several factors have driven The Hosteller’s rapid growth to over 55 self-operated hostels across India. First and foremost is our commitment to creating a consistent, high-quality guest experience. We ensure this by adhering to standardised operating procedures (SOPs) across all properties, covering cleanliness, safety, and service. Each hostel undergoes regular quality audits and inspections, ensuring our high standards are maintained as we expand.
Our proprietary online reputation management (ORM) tool plays a crucial role in quickly addressing guest feedback. This has been instrumental in maintaining guest satisfaction and trust, which is reflected in our consistently high ratings across platforms. We’ve also integrated smart technology, such as Alexa-powered rooms and the Glu app, to enhance convenience and personalise the guest experience.
Community-building is central to our brand identity, and we continuously curate experiences that allow travellers to connect, from local explorations to hostel-led activities. This focus on creating a vibrant, engaging atmosphere for guests has helped us stand out in the market.
To maintain quality while scaling, we invest heavily in continuous staff training programmes that ensure exceptional service across all locations. Additionally, safety and security are prioritised through centralised CCTV monitoring and mandatory emergency protocols, including employing at least one female staff member at each property.
Strategically, our expansion is guided by data-driven decisions, selecting locations that align with traveller needs. This, combined with a motivated leadership team and a strong brand identity, has allowed us to scale quickly while staying true to our mission of offering affordable, enriching travel experiences.
As an entrepreneur leading one of India’s biggest backpacker hostel chains, what were the most significant challenges you faced in the early days, and how did you overcome them?
Establishing The Hosteller came with several significant challenges, including securing funding, finding the right locations, and building a consistent brand experience in a relatively new market. In the early days, it was particularly difficult to convince property owners and investors about the potential of the backpacker hostel model in India, where the concept was still emerging.
We overcame these challenges by staying true to our vision of providing affordable, community-driven experiences for travellers. We focused on delivering quality consistently across our properties, which helped build trust with both guests and stakeholders. Leveraging technology, such as our proprietary operations management system, allowed us to streamline processes and maintain efficiency even as we expanded.
Additionally, engaging with our traveller community and listening to their feedback was crucial in refining our offerings. This close relationship with our guests helped us stay agile and continuously improve, ultimately contributing to the growth and success of The Hosteller.
What new initiatives or innovations can travellers expect from The Hosteller in the coming years? Are there plans to introduce new services or explore additional regions?
At The Hosteller, we’re continuously innovating to enhance the travel experience. In the coming years, we plan to expand into new offbeat destinations and offer curated travel experiences that combine accommodation with adventure and culture. We’re committed to sustainability, as well as partnerships with local businesses for deeper cultural connections.
One of our standout offerings is Commune by The Hosteller, India’s best travel membership plan for backpackers. This exclusive 3-tier membership programme offers perks like pre-curated travel packages, up to 15% guaranteed discounts, and premium benefits such as early check-ins, late check-outs, and free room upgrades. Members earn coins with every stay, redeemable for future bookings, and gain access to special vouchers from top brands.
We’ve also introduced Workation, designed for those looking to blend work and leisure. Our workation-friendly hostels offer high-speed Wi-Fi, dedicated workspaces, power backups, and scenic locations, allowing travellers to stay productive while enjoying beautiful surroundings. With 55+ destinations, our hostels provide the perfect environment for a work-life balance, complete with recreational areas, outdoor activities, and in-house cafes for unwinding after a productive day.
Our proprietary Glu web concierge appis another significant innovation. Glu allows guests to manage every aspect of their stay digitally, from contactless check-ins to booking local activities, ordering food, or joining in-house events—all with just a few clicks. This app not only enhances operational efficiency but also fosters a sense of community by connecting guests with curated experiences and fellow travellers. Glu, alongside our smart room features powered by Alexa, ensures a seamless and interactive guest experience.
Having secured our Series A funding, we aim to operate 100 properties by March 2025, including international expansions into Nepal, Sri Lanka, Thailand, and Vietnam by late 2025. Our long-term goal is to reach 500+ destinations by FY27/28, making The Hosteller a globally recognised brand synonymous with experiential travel.
In the hospitality and travel industry, sustainability is a growing focus. How does The Hosteller incorporate eco-friendly practices into its operations?
Sustainability is at the heart of our operations at The Hosteller. One of our key initiatives is serving 100% vegetarian food at all our hostels, reducing our carbon footprint and promoting conscious eating habits. Additionally, we have completely eliminated plastic bottle sales, offering glass bottles and providing water refilling stations throughout our properties to minimise single-use plastic waste.
We also focus on waste management by segregating waste at all of our hostels, ensuring proper disposal. Our hostels actively participate in local cleaning drives, encouraging both staff and guests to contribute to maintaining a clean environment in the surrounding areas. Through these efforts, we aim to create a sustainable travel experience while inspiring our guests to adopt eco-friendly practices.
With your background in tech and finance, how have these skills helped you create a scalable business model for The Hosteller? Are there any unique strategies you’ve employed to expand efficiently?
My background in finance and technology has been crucial in shaping The Hosteller’s scalable business model. From a financial perspective, it has allowed us to implement effective budgeting and resource allocation strategies, ensuring we could scale operations without compromising on quality. This financial rigour has helped us expand to over 55 locations while maintaining cost efficiency and profitability.
On the tech side, we’ve leveraged technology to streamline operations and enhance guest experiences. Our proprietary Glu app, for example, simplifies the booking process and provides guests with seamless check-ins and smart room features. This not only boosts guest convenience but also helps us manage multiple properties efficiently. Additionally, our smart use of data-driven insights has guided our expansion strategy, enabling us to make informed decisions about new locations and services.
You’ve had a unique career trajectory, from a senior analyst at EY to founding The Hosteller. How did your previous experience in finance and technology influence your approach to the hospitality business?
My experience at EY helped me build a strong foundation in problem-solving, data analysis, and process optimisation, skills that have been invaluable in the hospitality sector. Running The Hosteller has been like managing a dynamic portfolio, with each hostel being a unique asset. My tech background has influenced the way I approach guest experience, using data and insights to anticipate and cater to traveller preferences. This combination of finance and tech has allowed me to build a scalable, efficient, and guest-centric hospitality business.
As someone who successfully built a thriving brand in a competitive market, what advice would you give to budding entrepreneurs looking to disrupt the hospitality or travel industry?
My advice to budding entrepreneurs in the hospitality or travel industry is to stay persistent and true to your core values. Building a brand takes time, and there will be challenges along the way, but persistence is a virtue that will help you overcome obstacles. Never lose sight of your long-term vision, even while you focus on short-term goals.
Another key piece of advice is to avoid procrastination. One of the biggest intangible losses in any business is delayed decision-making. Think rationally and arrive at decisions quickly to keep your business moving forward.
Lastly, think long term. While short-term wins are important, always ensure your team is aligned with a broader, long-term vision. This balance will help you navigate the competitive market and create lasting success.
