Meet the Man Behind India's Largest Backpacker Hostel Chain - Pranav Dangi, CEO & Founder, The Hosteller

Meet the Man Behind India's Largest Backpacker Hostel Chain - Pranav Dangi, CEO & Founder, The Hosteller

Nithyakala Neelakandan

Published on August 2, 2024

In this exclusive interview, HospitalityNews had a conversation with Pranav Dangi, CEO & Founder, The Hosteller where he shares his insights on the brand’s expansion, key strategies, Glu, and more.

The Hosteller isn't just a place to stay, it’s a springboard for epic adventures and unforgettable memories. They’re India’s largest backpacker hostel chain, founded in 2014 with a simple mission: create amazing, affordable, and accessible hostels for young travelers (and the young at heart!).

No matter which Hosteller you choose, you’ll find consistent quality and top-notch hospitality. From comfy beds and clean spaces to secure lockers, and, of course, free Wi-Fi to stay connected. Need to mix business with pleasure? The Hosteller caters to digital nomads with work-friendly spaces perfect for getting things done. 

What inspired you to expand The Hosteller into Gujarat, Maharashtra, and South India in 2024?

Our expansion into Gujarat, Maharashtra, and South India is driven by the unique cultural richness and diverse landscapes of these regions. Gujarat’s heritage, Maharashtra’s vibrant cities and scenic coasts, and South India's tranquil backwaters and historic temples make them ideal for immersive travel experiences. 

The growing demand for affordable, quality accommodation and our commitment to the community further motivate this move. We aim to offer unique, culturally immersive stays that resonate with modern travelers, enhancing their journey with unforgettable experiences.

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Can you tell us about BAM Hotels and what makes them different from traditional luxury hotels?

BAM Hotels is an innovative venture by The Hosteller, designed to expand our hospitality offerings to a broader audience. We are set to launch 12 properties in 2024, BAM Hotels will be India’s first fully smart, digital, contactless, and tech-based hotels. BAM hotels will cater to travelers aged 30 and above, providing a sophisticated and comfortable stay while retaining the community-centric ethos of The Hosteller.

What sets Bam Hotels apart from traditional luxury hotels are several key elements:

Tech-First Innovations: Bam Hotels feature zero touchpoint check-in/out and digital room controls, ensuring a seamless and contactless experience for guests.

Minimalistic Luxury: The design ethos blends luxury with simplicity, offering a refined and elegant environment that appeals to the sophisticated tastes of modern travelers.

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Futuristic Approach: Bam Hotels adopt a forward-thinking mindset, continuously innovating to disrupt traditional hospitality norms. This includes smart technology integration and a focus on providing a seamless digital experience.

Community Living: Bam Hotels emphasize community living, encouraging guest interactions and connections. This community focus enhances the social atmosphere and provides a vibrant, engaging experience for guests.

Customized Experiences: Bam Hotels target tech-savvy professionals, family vacationers, luxury seekers, digital nomads, and experience enthusiasts, ensuring that each demographic’s specific needs and preferences are met.

How does The Hosteller’s motto “Travel smart, live smarter” reflect in your hostels and services?

The Hosteller’s motto, “Travel Smart, Live Smarter,” is embodied through our innovative technological initiatives. From smart rooms powered by Alexa to our comprehensive Glu app, we enhance guest freedom and convenience. 

Our mobile-responsive design ensures a seamless interface across devices, and we've introduced a contactless check-in/out process. The Glu app allows guests to manage their stay digitally—order food, book activities, check events, and raise housekeeping requests, all at the click of a button. Our focus on community-building activities and personalized experiences aligns with our mission to revolutionize travel, making it smarter and more connected. These initiatives demonstrate our commitment to exceeding the expectations of modern travelers.

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How do you ensure all your hostels provide a consistent and high-quality experience for travelers?

We ensure a consistent and high-quality experience through several key strategies:

Guest Feedback: Our proprietary Online Reputation Management (ORM) tool enables our Customer Experience team to quickly assess and address guest feedback, ensuring continuous improvement and maintaining high ratings.

Technological Integration: Smart technology initiatives like Alexa-powered rooms and the Glu app enhance convenience and overall guest experience.

Community Focus: We emphasize community-building activities and personalized experiences, ensuring guests enjoy their stay and create memorable connections.

Standardized Procedures: Rigorous SOPs for cleanliness, safety, and service ensure all hostels meet our high standards.

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Staff Training: Continuous training programs for our staff ensure exceptional service and hospitality.

Quality Audits: Regular quality audits and inspections maintain our standards across all locations.

Safety & Security for Guests: Enabling all the hostels with centralized CCTV monitoring system. Liaising with local authorities, onboarding emergency contacts such as doctor on call, fire/ambulance, etc. Mandatorily employing min. 1 female employee at each property

By implementing these strategies, we ensure every guest enjoys a consistent, high-quality experience at all our hostels.

How does The Hosteller’s proprietary tech platform facilitate community-driven experiences and foster connections among travelers, and what impact has this had on guest satisfaction?

The Hosteller’s proprietary tech platform, Glu, is a comprehensive web-based concierge service that revolutionizes how travelers experience their stay. Glu offers features like contactless check-in, instant in-stay feedback, and a variety of request options (housekeeping, maintenance, bookings). It also provides seamless access to services such as add-ons, rentals, transfers, events, activities, and food orders.

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Glu enhances community-driven experiences by enabling guests to explore and join events and activities, fostering connections with fellow travelers. This platform ensures guests have all the necessary information and services at their fingertips, promoting a hassle-free and personalized stay.

Our focus on creating engaging and interactive experiences has significantly boosted guest satisfaction. By leveraging technology to provide convenience, customization, and community, we have maintained high ratings and increased trust among our guests, reflected in positive feedback and repeat visits.

What are your plans for The Hosteller and Bam Hotels, especially regarding global expansion?

We plan to operate 100 properties by Mar 2025 under The Hosteller brand and approximately 8-10 properties under the Bam hotel brand by the same period. The Hosteller aims to go international and expand into neighboring countries from the 2nd half of 2025. We plan to have a presence in Nepal, Sri Lanka, Thailand & Vietnam to start with internationally. 

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How has raised over $1 million in funding helped The Hosteller grow, and what are your future funding plans?

With the USD 1 million raised, the company grew from 22 properties to 48 properties in a span of 18 months. This funding not only helped us expand geographically but also helped the company build a solid foundation for future expansion with fresh fund infusion planned in another 1 quarter. At this moment, the company is in talks with multiple VCs and private equity firms to raise its Series A round. 

What leadership initiatives have you used to build a young, dynamic team at The Hosteller?

We work in a very interesting industry, i.e., the travel & hospitality industry however in a fast paced environment like any other startup. To keep a young & dynamic team motivated and hungry for growth, we, as a company, work on multiple initiatives such as expectation setting, defining crisp and clear KRAs for each individual, knowledge transfer & training sessions, product development in various teams for faster and methodological work environment, empowering the culture of free communication & idea sharing and finally recognizing the contributions on an individual level and rewarding such contributions. 

Can you share a memorable story from your travels that influenced The Hosteller’s philosophy?

One memory that I remember from one of the many travels is from Geneva, Switzerland. I was backpacking in Europe and hadn't booked a hostel for my stay there. It was late at night (post 10 pm) and the hotels were very expensive to stay in. 

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Being a backpacker, I had to improvise and find a place to stay somewhere. Luckily, I found a couple online who were about to launch their new brand of hostels in the city and had posted for a requirement of a volunteer to help them with certain initiatives. I found them online, dropped them an email the same day and they replied. In a 30 minute quick conversation on email, they hired me for a week of volunteering and even came to pick me up from where I was at 2 am midnight. This was one of the touch and go stories of my travels. 

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Chef Vijay Pandey Talks Technology, Tradition, and the Future of Food Delivery

Chef Vijay Pandey Talks Technology, Tradition, and the Future of Food Delivery

Vijay Pandey

Published on May 1, 2025

Chef Vijay Pandey is not your typical chef. With roots in five-star hospitality and global culinary experiences, he now helms the kitchen innovation at Rebel Foods, India’s leading cloud kitchen network. As the Corporate Chef, he is the creative force behind multi-brand strategies that serve millions of customers every month.

“Each phase of my journey—luxury hotels, cruise liners, flight kitchens—taught me the value of precision, consistency, and authenticity,” shares Chef Vijay. These diverse experiences have equipped him to lead in the fast-paced world of food tech. At Rebel Foods, his mission is clear: deliver restaurant-quality meals at scale, without losing flavor or soul.

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With a portfolio that spans everything from Indian classics to international flavors, Chef Vijay ensures every brand under Rebel Foods retains its unique identity. “Every dish goes through rigorous R&D, pilot tests, and customer feedback loops. That’s how we maintain authenticity while pushing culinary boundaries,” he explains.

His global exposure has played a key role in shaping today's menus. He’s excited by the rise of fusion cuisine and personalized dining. “Consumers now crave stories on their plate—Korean burgers with Indian spices, or Mediterranean flavors with local ingredients. We’re here to make that happen,” he says.

Behind the scenes, it's a blend of tech and taste. AI-powered tools help optimize recipes and predict trends, but the heart of innovation still lies with the chefs. “Technology brings scale and efficiency, but it’s the human touch that brings flavor and emotion,” he adds.

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When it comes to delivery, every element is engineered—from packaging to plating—to ensure meals retain their restaurant appeal. “Recipe engineering and constant feedback are key,” he explains, adding that real-time data from over 350 kitchens help maintain quality at every touchpoint.

A strong advocate for wellness and mindful eating, Chef Vijay brings his passion for yoga into the culinary world. “We prioritize clean ingredients, sustainable sourcing, and balanced meals. Good food should nourish the body and the spirit,” he says.

From pioneering Lebanese menus at Manchester United Café Bar to building Faasos’ iconic burger wraps, Chef Vijay’s journey reflects creativity grounded in operational expertise. But perhaps his proudest achievement is shaping the future of food delivery in India—one bold flavor at a time.

Hungry for more insights from India’s top culinary leaders? Stay tuned to HospitalityNews by GuestVento for inspiring stories, industry innovations, and behind-the-kitchen moments that shape the future of food. Visit our website to read the full May edition, and direct message us for physical copies.


Redefining Travel: Exclusive Insights with Jyoti Mayal

Redefining Travel: Exclusive Insights with Jyoti Mayal

Jyoti Mayal

Published on May 1, 2025

In an exclusive feature for HospitalityNews' May Edition, we had the privilege of engaging in a compelling conversation with Jyoti Mayal, Chairperson of the Tourism and Hospitality Skill Council (THSC), and one of the most respected voices in India's tourism industry. With decades of experience and a keen eye on global trends, Jyoti Mayal brings a wealth of knowledge to the table—touching upon everything from eco-tourism to digital transformation in travel.

Her insights are not only eye-opening but also signal the emerging priorities of Indian travellers and how the industry must evolve to meet them. From discussing how tourism boards are crafting immersive experiences tailored to Indian preferences, to highlighting India's rising status in medical tourism, every part of the conversation offered a deeper look into the rapidly changing world of travel.

She begins by sharing how Indian travellers have moved beyond the conventional. “Indian travelers today are more informed, curious, and experience-driven than ever before…” This evolving mindset, she says, is driving demand for personalization and pushing agencies to elevate their offerings.

Further in the discussion, she emphasizes the meaningful collaborations between international tourism boards and Indian travel professionals. She reveals how these partnerships are building cultural bridges and setting new standards in hospitality.

On India’s leadership in medical tourism, Mayal proudly notes the impact of the Heal in India initiative and how the THSC is playing a transformative role in creating a skilled and empathetic ecosystem.

From sustainability in wildlife tourism to seamless international travel experiences and AI-driven travel planning, her observations are a masterclass in future-focused thinking.

This enlightening conversation with Jyoti Mayal is a must-read for industry leaders, aspiring travel professionals, and anyone interested in where Indian tourism is headed.

Catch the complete interview in the May edition of Hospitality News, available on our website. You can also get a physical copy to keep this enriching feature in your collection. It was truly a great conversation—one that sheds light on the vision, strategy, and heart behind India’s travel transformation.


The Untold Stories of Sri Lanka: Suchitra Aluwihare’s Approach to Immersive Travel

The Untold Stories of Sri Lanka: Suchitra Aluwihare’s Approach to Immersive Travel

Suchitra Aluwihare

Published on May 1, 2025

With a career spanning over 20 years in Sri Lanka’s vibrant travel and tourism industry, Suchitra Aluwihare stands at the forefront of redefining destination management. As the Chief Operating Officer of Hayleys Travels, one of Sri Lanka’s leading travel solutions providers, Mr. Aluwihare has played a vital role in shaping curated travel experiences that go beyond traditional tourism.

In this exclusive feature for HospitalityNews by GuestVento, Suchitra shares how Hayleys Travels combines technology, local expertise, and sustainability to craft journeys that are deeply personal and impactful. From immersive wildlife encounters to wellness-focused itineraries, the company’s unique offerings reflect a deep understanding of modern traveler preferences.

Under Mr. Aluwihare’s guidance, Hayleys has embraced responsible tourism as a core philosophy. From reforestation and marine conservation to partnering with local artisans and community-driven experiences, the goal is to ensure that every trip benefits both the traveler and the destination. His belief that “every journey should leave a positive footprint” drives much of the brand’s innovation.

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The conversation also touches on Sri Lanka’s lesser-known destinations—from boat safaris in Gal Oya to dolphin watching in Kalpitiya—reminding readers that the island’s real magic often lies off the beaten path. Mr. Aluwihare’s passion for showcasing Sri Lanka’s hidden gems is matched only by his commitment to preserving them for future generations.

Want to know what sets Hayleys apart in a crowded market? Curious about how tech is shaping sustainable travel? Read the full interview with Suchitra Aluwihare in the latest May edition of HospitalityNews by GuestVento.

Head to our website to read the full e-magazine and DM us for physical copies!