EkoStay Crosses ₹40 Crore in Revenue, Scales to 150+ Villas Across 12+ Cities, Built Entirely Without External Funding

India’s bootstrapped homestay hospitality brand delivers 43% YoY growth, remains EBITDA-positive, and targets 220+ properties with continued double-digit margins

Mumbai,  April 2026: At a time when growth in hospitality startups is often equated with capital raised, EkoStay is charting a fundamentally different trajectory, one anchored in profitability, operational discipline, and consistent guest demand.

The Mumbai-based alternative accommodation brand has reported ₹40 crore in revenue for FY 2025–26, marking a 43% year-on-year growth, while continuing to remain EBITDA-positive with ~10% margins.

But beyond revenue, the scale of the business tells a deeper story.

From its inception in 2018, EkoStay has grown into a network of 150+ professionally managed villas across 12+ leisure destinations, translating into hundreds of operational rooms and guest units serving travellers across India’s most in-demand holiday markets. The brand currently operates at an average occupancy of 56%, with a strong and growing base of repeat customers.

Looking ahead, the company is targeting ₹52+ crore in revenue in FY27, alongside a 30%+ growth trajectory and plans to scale its footprint to 220+ properties nationwide.

A Bootstrapped Model That Prioritised Fundamentals Over Funding

Founded by Husain Khatumdi, Sohail Mirchandani, Varun Arora, and Zishan Khan, EkoStay has been built without raising external capital, relying instead on internal accruals, measured expansion, and sharp operational control.

“Being bootstrapped meant every decision had to be efficient and accountable. That discipline is what continues to define how we scale today,” said Varun Arora, CEO & Co-Founder, EkoStay.

This approach has enabled the company to grow sustainably, while maintaining profitability in a segment often characterised by high burn and fragmented supply.

Repeat Behaviour, Not Discounts, Driving Growth

A defining lever of EkoStay’s growth has been repeat bookings and organic referrals, significantly reducing dependence on paid acquisition channels.

“Consistency in guest experience has been critical in building trust. A large part of our growth today comes from guests who choose to stay with us again or recommend us within their network,” added Sohail Mirchandani, COO & Co-Founder.

This repeat-driven model has allowed the brand to strengthen unit economics while scaling demand in a capital-efficient manner.

Scaling Supply Where Demand Already Exists

EkoStay’s expansion strategy has remained sharply demand-led, focusing on high-traction leisure micro-markets rather than aggressive, undifferentiated inventory addition.

The brand has seen particularly strong growth across South India, including the Nilgiris region, where demand for private villa stays continues to rise alongside evolving travel preferences.

“Our focus has always been on identifying destinations where demand is structurally strong and aligning our supply accordingly,” said Zishan Khan, Chief Acquisition Officer & Co-Founder.

A Standardised Yet Personalised Hospitality Model

Operating at the intersection of hospitality and vacation rentals, EkoStay combines the reliability of branded hospitality with the privacy and comfort of homestays.

Its model also enables homeowners to unlock value from their properties through professional management, without the operational complexities of hosting, creating a parallel supply pipeline that supports scalable growth.

What ₹40 Crore Represents

For EkoStay, this milestone is not just about topline growth.

It reflects a business built with zero external funding, zero dilution, and no reliance on debt, driven entirely by customer demand and internal reinvestment.

“₹40 crore is not just a revenue milestone, it validates a model that has been built sustainably, with long-term value creation at its core,” said Husain Khatumdi, Managing Director & Co-Founder.

Positioned for the Next Phase of Category Growth

India’s alternative accommodation segment is witnessing a structural shift, driven by rising domestic travel and increasing preference for private, curated, and experience-led stays.

With a strong foundation of profitability, repeat demand, and a growing supply base, EkoStay is well-positioned to capitalise on this momentum.

As the company scales towards 220+ properties and ₹52+ crore in revenue, its focus remains clear: disciplined growth, stronger operations, and delivering consistently high-quality guest experiences at scale.

About EkoStay

Founded in 2018, EkoStay is a Mumbai-based alternative accommodation brand offering professionally managed vacation homes across India. Built on a vision to deliver a standardised yet personalised homestay experience, the company operates a portfolio of 150+ curated villas across 12+ leisure destinations, catering to the evolving needs of modern travellers.

EkoStay combines the reliability of branded hospitality with the comfort and privacy of home-like stays, while enabling homeowners to monetise their properties without operational involvement. With a strong focus on customer experience, operational efficiency, and sustainable growth, the company has scaled profitably and remains entirely bootstrapped, driven by internal accruals and repeat demand.

As it expands its footprint towards 220+ properties, EkoStay continues to redefine the vacation rental landscape in India through design-led spaces, consistent service standards, and a guest-first approach.

EkoStay Launches ‘Ekostay Stories’, a Podcast That Opens the Doors to the Real World of Villa Hospitality

India | 2026- EkoStay, one of India’s fastest-growing professionally managed vacation rental brands, has announced the launch of Ekostay Stories, a new in-house podcast series that captures the unfiltered realities, untold stories, and behind-the-scenes moments of the villa and homestay ecosystem.

Positioned as both an industry conversation and a storytelling platform, Ekostay Stories moves beyond curated travel imagery and five-star captions to spotlight what actually goes on behind a stay. From guest behaviour and homeowner dynamics to operational chaos, humour, conflict, and unexpected moments, the podcast brings together voices from across the ecosystem including co-founders, guests, homeowners, vendors, and internal teams.

At a time when hospitality content is largely driven by surface-level reviews and influencer narratives, Ekostay Stories offers a refreshingly honest perspective. According to Skift’s 2025 travel media outlook, audiences are increasingly drawn to long-form, narrative-led content that explains how brands function behind the scenes, rather than just showcasing outcomes. Ekostay Stories taps directly into this shift, blending real-life drama, humour, and insight into a format that feels both entertaining and educational.

Why Ekostay Stories Was Created

Sharing the thinking behind the podcast, Varun Arora, CEO & Co-Founder, EkoStay, said that the idea stemmed from a clear gap in how the homestay industry communicates.

“Guests are already speaking online about their experiences, usually when something goes wrong. But what no one really talks about is everything that happens behind the scenes the coordination, the people management, the homeowner conversations, the pressure points. Ekostay Stories is our way of opening that door and showing the industry as it truly operates.”

He added that building and managing vacation homes is far more complex than it appears on social media. From sourcing a property and making it guest-ready to managing expectations across homeowners, staff, competitors, and even local authorities, the realities are layered and rarely visible.

“It’s not always pretty or simple. There’s a lot that goes on backstage, and we felt it was time someone spoke about it honestly from a founder’s perspective, a management perspective, and an industry perspective.”

A ‘Tea Party’ Format with Real Stories

Described internally as “not just a podcast, but a full tea party,” Ekostay Stories leans into candid conversations, villa secrets, guest confessions, and real moments that range from hilarious to hard-hitting. Early episode titles such as “Gayi Bhais Pool Mai” and “Signed & Shattered” hint at the tone unfiltered, humorous, dramatic, and deeply rooted in lived experiences.

This approach mirrors a broader content trend. A 2025 Deloitte report on consumer media behaviour noted that audiences increasingly engage with brands that are willing to show vulnerability and imperfection, especially in service-led industries. Ekostay Stories reflects this mindset by allowing multiple sides of the story to coexist guests, homeowners, teams, and founders all sharing their version of events.

Who the Podcast Speaks To

Ekostay Stories has been created with a wide audience in mind. It is equally relevant to hospitality and travel industry leaders, property owners, and aspiring hosts, as it is to travellers curious about how villa brands actually operate. The podcast also serves as a transparent window for current and future hospitality professionals, offering insight into the realities of working in a fast-growing, people-driven industry.

Importantly, the series also touches upon brand building. As highlighted in a December 2025 McKinsey report on service businesses in emerging markets, storytelling around operations, culture, and decision-making plays a critical role in building long-term trust. Ekostay Stories positions itself as a learning resource for entrepreneurs and founders building consumer-facing brands.

Themes, Frequency, and the Road Ahead

Ekostay Stories will release one episode every week, with conversations spanning multiple dimensions of the hospitality business. Episodes will explore how EkoStay works with homeowners, manages competition, handles labour force challenges, navigates government regulations, and adapts to changing traveller behaviour.

Future conversations will also examine the rise of new travel audiences, longer stays, the impact of remote work culture, and how AI and technology are beginning to educate property owners, future hosts, and travellers alike. According to PwC’s 2025 travel and hospitality outlook, technology-led personalisation and transparency are emerging as key trust drivers in alternative accommodation a theme the podcast plans to explore in depth.

Reflecting a Changing Hospitality Landscape

As India’s vacation rental sector continues to mature, the demand for authenticity, transparency, and deeper engagement is growing. Ekostay Stories reflects this shift by turning real experiences into shared conversations, offering a rare look at how hospitality brands are built, tested, and evolved in real time.

By blending industry insight with raw, sometimes messy storytelling, Ekostay Stories aims to carve out a unique space in India’s travel and startup content ecosystem one that informs, entertains, and sparks honest dialogue around modern hospitality.

EkoStay Accelerates Expansion with Premium Villas Across India

EkoStay, the vacation home brand known for its professionally managed private villas, has announced a major expansion milestone, strengthening its footprint across India’s most sought-after leisure destinations. With rising demand for private, experience-led stays, the company is strategically scaling its portfolio to cater to evolving traveler preferences.

Expanding Across Maharashtra’s Getaway Corridors

In the past two months, EkoStay has added eight new villas in Maharashtra, including:

• Three in Panchgani

• One in Igatpuri

• One in Dahanu

• Three in Alibaug

These additions reinforce the brand’s strong presence in Maharashtra’s popular holiday markets.

New Villas in Goa, Kodaikanal, and Palghar

Building on this momentum, EkoStay is set to launch five more villas this month:

• One in Palghar

• Two in Kodaikanal

• Two in Goa

This marks a strategic move into both emerging coastal destinations and established luxury leisure hubs.

Luxe Villas in Ooty

Further accelerating its premium category growth, EkoStay has secured three Luxe category villas in Ooty, featuring expansive 4, 5, and 6 BHK configurations. These properties are undergoing final readiness and are expected to go live next month.

Leadership Insights

• Varun Arora, CEO & Co-Founder: “India’s travel behavior has shifted towards private, curated stays. Our expansion reflects growing consumer demand and homeowner confidence in vacation rentals.”

• Husain Khatumdi, MD & Co-Founder: “Every property onboarding represents a partnership built on trust. Professionally managed homestays are becoming a strong alternate income stream for second-home owners.”

• Zishan Khan, Chief Acquisition Officer & Co-Founder: “Our acquisition strategy prioritizes quality inventory. The Luxe villas in Ooty represent curated expansion where design, location, and experiential value converge.”

• Sohail Mirchandani, COO & Co-Founder: “Operational excellence is key. Each property undergoes structured integration to ensure consistent guest experiences across destinations.”

The Bigger Picture

EkoStay’s expansion highlights the growing appetite for private villa stays in India, driven by travelers seeking space, flexibility, and personalized hospitality. By focusing on curated acquisitions and operational consistency, the brand is positioning itself as a leader in the premium vacation rental space.

EkoStay Accelerates National Expansion with Strategic Villa Onboarding Across Emerging Leisure Destinations

Adds 8 New Villas Across Panchgani, Igatpuri, Dahanu and Alibaug; Announces 5 Upcoming Launches in Palghar, Kodaikanal and Goa with Luxe Category Expansion in Ooty

Mumbai, India | March 2026: Professionally managed vacation home brand EkoStay, one of India’s fast growing alternative accommodation platforms, has announced a significant expansion milestone with the onboarding and launch of multiple premium villas across key leisure markets, further strengthening its footprint across high demand holiday destinations nationwide.

Over the past two months, the company has added eight new villas to its growing portfolio, including three in Panchgani, one in Igatpuri, one in Dahanu and three in Alibaug, reinforcing its presence across Maharashtra’s most sought after getaway corridors. Building on this momentum, EkoStay is set to launch five additional villas this month, including one in Palghar, two in Kodaikanal and two in Goa, marking a strategic move into both emerging coastal markets and established luxury leisure destinations.

Further accelerating its premium category growth, the brand has also successfully closed three Luxe category villas in Ooty, comprising expansive 4, 5 and 6 BHK configurations. These properties are currently undergoing final readiness processes and are expected to go live next month.

Founded in 2018 by hospitality entrepreneurs Husain Khatumdi, Sohail Mirchandani, Varun Arora and Zishan Khan, EkoStay has rapidly evolved into one of India’s prominent professionally managed homestay platforms, offering curated villa experiences designed around privacy, comfort and personalised hospitality. With a portfolio now spanning over 150 villas across 12 cities, the company continues to redefine the alternative accommodation ecosystem through a homeowner partnership driven model.

Speaking on the expansion, Varun Arora, Chief Executive Officer and Co-Founder, EkoStay, said: “India’s travel behaviour has fundamentally shifted towards private, experience led stays where travellers seek space, flexibility and curated hospitality. Our recent expansion reflects both growing consumer demand and strong homeowner confidence in professionally managed vacation rentals. We are focused on building depth within high performing micro markets while simultaneously unlocking new leisure destinations that show strong long-term potential.”

The expansion strategy reflects EkoStay’s dual focus on strengthening established markets such as Alibaug and Goa while entering emerging lifestyle driven destinations including Dahanu and Palghar, which are witnessing increasing interest from urban travellers seeking short drive getaways.

Husain Khatumdi, Managing Director and Co-Founder, EkoStay, added: “Our vision has always been to simplify hosting for homeowners while delivering consistent guest experiences. Every new property onboarding represents a partnership built on trust. As more second home owners look at structured asset monetisation, professionally managed homestays are becoming a strong alternate income stream, and we see tremendous opportunity ahead.”

The upcoming Luxe category villas in Ooty mark another step towards premiumisation for the brand, catering to evolving consumer expectations around larger group travel, celebrations and destination led experiences.

Commenting on acquisitions and market growth, Zishan Khan, Chief Acquisition Officer and Co Founder, EkoStay, said: “We are seeing accelerated interest from homeowners across destinations that were previously considered niche leisure markets. Our acquisition strategy is focused on quality inventory rather than scale alone. The Luxe villas in Ooty represent the next phase of curated expansion where design, location and experiential value come together.”

Operational excellence continues to remain central to the company’s growth approach, supported by regional market leadership teams across locations including Goa, Lonavala, Karjat, Panchgani and Ooty.

Sohail Mirchandani, Chief Operating Officer and Co Founder, EkoStay, said: “As we expand, maintaining standardisation alongside personalisation remains critical. Each property undergoes a structured operational and guest experience integration process before going live. Our goal is to ensure that regardless of destination, guests experience the same reliability and service quality that defines EkoStay.”

With increasing domestic tourism, remote work flexibility and group travel trends continuing to fuel demand for private villa stays, EkoStay remains focused on sustainable expansion, homeowner partnerships and destination diversification as it scales its national presence.

About EkoStay 

EkoStay is a professionally managed vacation home platform offering curated villa stays across India. Founded in 2018, the company collaborates with homeowners to transform private properties into hospitality ready vacation homes, delivering standardised yet personalised guest experiences. With a portfolio spanning over 150 villas across 12 cities, EkoStay combines technology, operational expertise and customer centric design to redefine India’s alternative accommodation landscape.

EkoStay Unveils New Guest Experience & Hospitality Innovations, Championing Wellness and Mental Well-Being in Villa Travel

Launch of Work-from-Villa packages, Petcation Collection, and wellness-led retreats marks a new era of restorative and experiential travel in India

India, Mumbai | October 2025: As the world arrives at World Mental Wellness Day on 10 October, EkoStay, one of India’s leading names in the alternative hospitality space, is spotlighting the growing role of travel, space, and restorative experiences in supporting mental well-being. The brand has announced a series of guest experience and hospitality innovations designed to enhance and personalize villa stays for modern travellers. These initiatives focus on digital nomads, pet parents, and wellness-focused guests, while reinforcing EkoStay’s commitment to operational excellence and hospitality innovation at scale.

As India’s travel landscape evolves, travellers are no longer looking at villas merely as accommodation, but as immersive, lifestyle-led spaces where work, leisure, wellness, and personal well-being converge. With World Mental Wellness Day approaching on 10 October, EkoStay’s new offerings reflect the growing desire for travel that restores, recharges, and supports mental well-being, setting a fresh benchmark for villa hospitality in India.

Work-from-Villa: The New Way to Work and Travel

With the rise of digital nomads and remote professionals, EkoStay has introduced dedicated Work-from-Villa packages across all properties. These packages combine high-speed internet, smart TVs with multiple streaming platforms, and wellness and food add-ons, making it seamless for guests to work efficiently while enjoying a vacation lifestyle.

According to a 2025 report by NASSCOM & FICCI on the Future of Work, over 28% of India’s urban workforce now works remotely for at least part of the year, fuelling the rise of “workcations” and hybrid travel models. EkoStay’s villas are strategically positioned to cater to this new wave of mobile professionals who seek comfort, connectivity, and flexibility.

Zeeshan Khan, Chief Acquisition Officer & Co-founder, EkoStay, said: “As work patterns evolve, we saw a clear opportunity to reimagine how second homes can serve as inspiring, functional workspaces. Our Work-from-Villa model is designed to offer professionals all the infrastructure they need, without compromising on the experience of living in a beautiful, private space.”

India’s First Structured Petcation Collection

EkoStay has launched India’s first structured “Petcation Collection”, a curated selection of pet-friendly vacation homes across its portfolio.

According to Euromonitor’s India Pet Care Market Outlook 2025, pet ownership in urban India has grown by 66% over the last decade, with millennials and Gen Z driving the trend of travelling with pets. However, only a small fraction of hospitality providers offer truly pet-accommodative services. EkoStay’s collection fills this gap with thoughtfully designed spaces, including open lawns, pet-friendly dining setups, and curated pet experiences ensuring that pets are not just welcome, but celebrated guests.

Varun Arora, CEO & Co-founder, EkoStay, added: “We’re witnessing a cultural shift where pets are becoming central to how families plan their holidays. Our Petcation Collection brings structure, comfort, and joy to pet-friendly travel, ensuring that both owners and their pets have an equally memorable stay.”

Wellness + Stay Crossover: Retreats that Restore

As part of its commitment to holistic and mentally restorative travel experiences, EkoStay has initiated tie-ups with yoga and meditation practitioners to host wellness-led villa retreats. Guests can now elevate their stay with private yoga sessions, guided meditations, or rejuvenation therapies by connecting with their respective Stay Experience Manager. This transforms a villa holiday into a restorative, soul-nourishing experience supporting not just physical relaxation but mental well-being too.

According to the Global Wellness Institute, India’s wellness tourism market is projected to grow at a CAGR of over 10%, reaching USD 27 billion by the end of 2025. Wellness-focused travellers are increasingly seeking intimate, experiential formats over large resort settings a space where EkoStay’s villas offer the ideal blend of privacy, authenticity, and curated experiences.

Additionally, EkoStay’s Dedicated Stay Experience Managers curate bespoke experiences from decorations for parties, DJ setups, and live musicians, to wellness add-ons like yoga instructors and massage therapists tailoring every stay to the guest’s personal vision.

Husain Khatumdi, Managing Director & Co-founder, EkoStay, shared: “Wellness is no longer a niche it’s becoming a core reason why people travel. Our retreats are designed to bring mindful experiences into private villa settings, giving guests a sense of restoration without the rigidity of a traditional retreat.”

Operational Excellence as the Foundation

Behind these guest-facing innovations is a robust operational backbone, which ensures that every villa meets EkoStay’s hospitality standards:

• Villa Readiness SOPs designed to maximize guest satisfaction.

• High-speed internet & smart TVs installed across all villas.

• Curated food programs, with professional kitchen setups offering diverse packages veg, non-veg, Jain, seafood, and local cuisine catering to every type of traveller.

• A Dedicated Stay Experience Manager at every property, ensuring seamless logistics and personalized service.

Sohail Mirchandani, COO & Co-founder, EkoStay, emphasized: “Innovation only works when backed by strong systems. Our focus has always been on building an operational backbone that delivers consistently across hundreds of properties. That’s what allows us to scale experiences without diluting quality.”