OYO Acquires Iconic Motel 6 Brand in USD 525 Million All-Cash Deal

OYO Acquires Iconic Motel 6 Brand in USD 525 Million All-Cash Deal

By Nishang Narayan

Published on September 22, 2024

In a bold move to expand its presence in the US market, IPO-bound travel tech platform OYO has agreed to acquire the renowned American budget hotel chain Motel 6 and its offshoot, Studio 6, for USD 525 million in an all-cash transaction. OYO's parent company, Oravel Stays, announced the acquisition from Blackstone Real Estate, positioning the Indian unicorn for significant growth in the US hospitality sector. The deal is expected to close by the fourth quarter of 2024, subject to customary regulatory approvals.

Motel 6, an iconic name in the budget lodging segment with over 1,500 properties across the US and Canada, brings in a substantial gross room revenue of USD 1.7 billion. Under Blackstone's ownership, the brand underwent strategic transformation, shifting to an asset-light franchise model. The acquisition aligns with OYO's vision of strengthening its international footprint, especially in North America, where it currently operates more than 320 hotels across 35 states. In 2023 alone, OYO added nearly 100 hotels to its US portfolio and has plans to add 250 more in 2024.

Gautam Swaroop, CEO of OYO International, expressed enthusiasm about the acquisition: "This acquisition is a significant milestone for a startup company like ours, enabling us to build on Motel 6's strong brand recognition and financial foundation. Together, we aim to chart a sustainable path forward while maintaining Motel 6's iconic presence."

OYO plans to integrate its comprehensive technology suite, global distribution network, and marketing expertise to further elevate the Motel 6 and Studio 6 brands. With its technology-driven approach to hospitality, OYO aims to enhance guest experiences and drive continued financial growth for the newly acquired brands.

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Julie Arrowsmith, CEO of G6 Hospitality, welcomed the acquisition, stating, “OYO’s innovative approach will allow us to enhance our offerings and continue providing the value that Motel 6 guests have trusted for over six decades.” Blackstone's Rob Harper also highlighted the strong return on investment, noting that the deal tripled investors' capital and generated over USD 1 billion in profits.

This acquisition signals OYO's ambitions to solidify its standing in the global hospitality industry and marks another chapter in its aggressive international expansion strategy.


Apeejay Surrendra Park Hotels Reports Rs 13 Crore Net Profit in Q1 FY26

Apeejay Surrendra Park Hotels Reports Rs 13 Crore Net Profit in Q1 FY26

By Manu Vardhan Kannan

Published on August 18, 2025

Apeejay Surrendra Park Hotels Limited (ASPHL) announced its financial results for Q1 FY26, recording a net profit of Rs 13 crore. Revenue from operations stood at Rs 154 crore, a 14% increase year-on-year, while operating EBITDA grew 16% YoY to Rs 45 crore. The company maintained an industry-leading occupancy of 92%, reaffirming its leadership in the hospitality sector.

ASPHL’s growth is fueled by expansion into Tier 2 and Tier 3 markets. The company recently signed an MoU to acquire and manage four leisure properties in Goa, Manali, Shimla, and Dharamshala, adding 138 rooms under its brand. These steps align with ASPHL’s strategy to broaden its presence in high-potential tourism destinations and double its key count to 5,750 over the next five years.

Flurys, ASPHL’s iconic bakery and confectionery brand, now operates 102 outlets nationwide, reflecting the company’s focus on expanding its market presence while integrating modern amenities with rich cultural heritage.

Commenting on the performance, Vijay Dewan, Managing Director, Apeejay Surrendra Park Hotels, said,

"We have delivered an extraordinary and best-ever Q1, setting a strong momentum for the year ahead. With topline growth of 14% and EBITDA growth of 16%, we recorded India’s highest occupancy of 92% and maintained leadership in RevPAR in the upper-upscale segment. ARR improved by 13% and RevPAR increased by 12%. With nearly 600 new rooms added, including a 41% rise in our asset-light model, and nationwide Flurys rollout, we are poised to scale faster, enhance margins, and deliver exceptional shareholder value."

ASPHL’s strong performance in Q1 FY26 underscores its strategic focus on market expansion, operational excellence, and premium guest experiences.


Marriott Announces Dividend and Expands Share Buyback Plan

Marriott Announces Dividend and Expands Share Buyback Plan

By Manu Vardhan Kannan

Published on August 10, 2025

Marriott International, Inc. has declared a quarterly cash dividend of 67 cents per share on its common stock, reaffirming its commitment to delivering shareholder value. The dividend will be paid on September 30, 2025, to shareholders who are on record as of August 21, 2025.

Alongside the dividend announcement, the hospitality giant also revealed an expansion of its share repurchase program. The board of directors has authorized the repurchase of an additional 25 million shares of its Class A common stock. This comes in addition to the approximately 7.4 million shares that were still available under previous authorizations as of July 30, 2025.

Marriott has already bought back 6.4 million shares this year, amounting to $1.7 billion. These moves reflect the company’s continued confidence in its financial stability and long-term performance, aiming to strengthen shareholder value through strategic capital allocation.


Chennai Postal Services Still Disrupted: Experts Call for Alternative Systems Amid Software Transition

Chennai Postal Services Still Disrupted: Experts Call for Alternative Systems Amid Software Transition

By Author

Published on August 4, 2025

In what was intended to be a smooth digital transformation, postal services across the Chennai Circle continue to remain disrupted even days after a scheduled upgrade to India Post's new IT 2.0 system. The software transition—part of a broader effort to modernize the nation’s postal network—was implemented on August 2nd and 4th across Chennai North and South divisions. However, officials have now confirmed that technical issues still persist, leaving customers and businesses grappling with delayed or inaccessible services.

Key services such as Speed Post, registered mail, parcel bookings, and money orders have either been significantly slowed or paused altogether in many branches. Despite expectations that systems would normalize post-upgrade, the rollout of the Advanced Postal Technology (APT) system has proven more complex than anticipated.

“We are still working on stabilizing the system. There have been unforeseen glitches post-upgrade, and our teams are actively resolving them,” said a senior postal official who requested anonymity.

The disruption has raised concerns across industries—including the hospitality sector—where timely document dispatch, license renewals, vendor payments, and customer correspondence are crucial to daily operations.

Experts and industry stakeholders are now calling on India Post to introduce alternative operational strategies or backup mechanisms during such large-scale transitions.

“In a digital age where seamless service is non-negotiable, a complete blackout due to a software update is avoidable. A fallback process, whether manual or cloud-based, should be in place to ensure continuity,” said a Chennai-based hospitality consultant.

The hospitality industry relies heavily on postal services for legal documentation, international communication, and procurement logistics. The ongoing delays have caused bottlenecks not just in operations but also in customer experience delivery.

As authorities continue to work toward a resolution, the broader question remains: Should India’s essential public infrastructure be this vulnerable to a single system upgrade? The answer may lie in future-proofing core services with hybrid digital models that include disaster recovery plans and parallel systems.


Hospitalitynews.in will continue to track updates as the situation evolves.

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