Vedanta wake up!

Set up & operations of 18 backpacking hostels across India

Concept Overview

The Company set up a chain of 18 backpacking hostels across the Indian states of Kerala, Karnataka & Tamil Nadu. The business model involved leasing & standardisation of unbranded & underperforming lodges and motels

Vedanta Wake up! was founded in 2011 with the objective of introducing organised hostelling in India

What started out as a passion project, the project then evolved into a venture with clear visibility of scale, non linear growth and profitability

Brand Overview

Vedanta Wake up! hostels were conceptualized in 2011 with the vision of creating a safe and unique environment for guests to meet each other, get to know about each other, share travel advice, discover friendships and most importantly to have an experience whereby they are able to better connect to the city they are visiting through the bonds they have developed

Overview – Aggregation, branding & operation of existing small budget hotels through long term leases

Business Model – The business model was to aggregate existing unbranded hotels through long term leases and then re-brand, refurbish and operate these properties

Target Market – No restriction on target markets. The vision was to be a pan India player with the potential of extending the concept to other countries as well which have a fragmented hotel supply

Scale – The business, at its peak operated 18 properties (~400 existing rooms)

Operated in 18 locations in the states of Kerala, Tamil Nadu & Karnataka

Prototype Property

Private Rooms (Double Rooms, Organic Bamboo Huts, Tents, Indian Cots)
Dorm Rooms of 4 – 8 beds each
Dry kitchen serving breakfast and light snacks
Travel Desk + Round the clock reception
Common lounge consisting of seating areas with big screen TV, book exchange, board games, musical instruments & map of the local attractions
Outdoor areas such as gardens and terraces