EkoStay has expanded its premium private villa portfolio across Maharashtra and Karnataka, introducing a range of new boutique stays ahead of the monsoon travel season. The latest additions strengthen the brand's presence in some of India's most sought-after drive-to leisure destinations and nature-focused getaway locations.

The newly launched and recently added properties include Vana Mora in Nashik, Wada Crest in Wada, Casa Elara in Igatpuri, Casa Bella in Lonavala, and Forest Cube Villa in Chikmagalur. The expansion reflects EkoStay's focus on offering design-led private stays that combine comfort, privacy, and immersive experiences close to nature.

Each property offers a unique stay experience. Wada Crest is a 3BHK villa designed for wellness retreats and intimate group getaways, featuring a private pool and spacious outdoor areas. Casa Elara in Igatpuri offers a luxury 5BHK experience surrounded by mountain views, while Casa Bella in Lonavala is a large-format villa spread across a 10,000 sq. ft. garden, making it ideal for celebrations and group stays.

In Karnataka, Forest Cube Villa marks EkoStay's growing presence in South India's experiential travel market. Located amidst the coffee plantations of Chikmagalur, the villa blends contemporary design with a peaceful forest setting, offering guests a relaxing nature-inspired escape.

The expansion comes as more travellers opt for private villas, nature stays, and short driveable holidays instead of traditional hotel stays, especially during the monsoon season.

Speaking about the expansion, Varun Arora, CEO & Co-Founder, EkoStay, said, "Over the last few years, we have seen a very visible shift in the way people travel, especially during monsoon and short leisure breaks. Travellers today are looking for experiences that feel more private, immersive and emotionally connected to the destination itself rather than simply transactional stays. Maharashtra and Karnataka continue to emerge as very strong leisure markets because they offer accessibility, natural beauty and year-round travel demand, especially from urban audiences looking for quick but meaningful escapes.

"With properties like Casa Bella, Casa Elara, Wada Crest and Forest Cube, our focus has been on creating hospitality experiences that combine comfort, design, privacy and a strong sense of place. Every property has its own personality, whether it is a forest-facing retreat, a luxury celebration villa or a peaceful countryside escape. As a brand, we are consciously building a portfolio that feels experiential rather than standardised."

Husain Khatumdi, Managing Director & Co-Founder, added, "The demand for professionally managed private villas has evolved tremendously in recent years. Guests today are not only seeking luxury, but also reliability, operational consistency and curated hospitality experiences. Our expansion strategy is focused on identifying destinations that have strong long-term leisure potential and building a high-quality villa ecosystem around them. We believe the future of hospitality lies in highly personalised stay experiences that still maintain strong operational standards."

Commenting on operations, Sohail Mirchandani, COO & Co-Founder, said, "As we continue expanding across multiple destinations, a strong operational backbone becomes extremely important. We have been heavily investing in standardisation, SOP-led execution, guest servicing systems and internal operational processes to ensure that the experience remains consistent across every EkoStay property. Scaling boutique hospitality successfully requires both emotional hospitality and strong backend systems working together."

Speaking about the company's destination strategy, Zishan Khan said, "One of our biggest focus areas has been identifying destinations and properties that have strong experiential value and long-term hospitality relevance. Whether it is a misty coffee estate in Chikmagalur, a scenic villa in Igatpuri or a luxury celebration property in Lonavala, we look at how travellers emotionally connect with a destination. Beyond acquiring inventory, our larger vision is to build highly curated villa clusters that deliver memorable stay experiences while also helping homeowners professionally monetise their properties."