Exclusive Interview | Arunkumar Raman, Hotel Growth Coach, Founder – Hotel Growth Hub
/“Celebrate every win – no matter how small. Whether it’s a team member getting a 5-star review or a successful upsell, acknowledge it publicly. This creates a positive culture of appreciation and continuous learning.”
What inspired you to create Hotel Growth Hub, and how is it different from traditional consulting or hotel marketing agencies?
Hotel Growth Hub is not a consulting firm or a marketing agency – it’s a community. A place where hotel owners learn, grow, and succeed together. The inspiration behind creating this community came from my own struggles during my 25-year journey in the hotel industry. I worked in various hotels in India and abroad, and it was far from a red carpet experience. I faced countless challenges, connected with multiple hotel owners, software companies, and OTAs, and learned things the hard way.
I realized that not every hotel owner in India has 20-25 years to invest in trial and error. So, I decided to simplify the complex strategies I learned and share them with other hotel owners in a supportive community environment. Here, hotel owners are not just passive learners – they actively share their experiences, challenges, and successes with each other. This peer-to-peer learning model accelerates growth in a way that no consultancy or agency can replicate. With over 300 members ranging from 22 to 83 years old, the community is a vibrant mix of perspectives, fostering an atmosphere of genuine learning and mutual support.
Through your Hotel Growth Formula course, what are the top 3 mindset or operational shifts you believe every hotel owner must make?
The first and most powerful mindset shift is the realization that 'Anything is Possible.' Many hotel owners feel stuck or limited in their current strategies. Once they join the community and start interacting with other members, they see that even small actions can lead to big results. This sense of possibility fuels confidence and momentum.
The second shift is moving from dependency on external agencies to becoming self-reliant. My system breaks down complex marketing and sales strategies into simple, actionable steps that even a 22-year-old new hotel owner can implement. Members realize that they don’t need to rely on agencies to grow – they have the knowledge and tools within the community to do it themselves.
The third shift is adopting the 'Win-Win-Win Mindset.' In the community, we emphasize that when you take care of your employees, they take care of your guests, and your guests take care of your business through positive reviews and referrals. It’s a powerful chain reaction that transforms the entire hotel culture and guest experience.
What kind of results or success stories have you seen from hoteliers who applied your growth system?
There are countless success stories, but here are some that stand out:
A hotel owner from Ramgarh, Uttarakhand, ranked 41st on Google before joining the community. After implementing my strategies, he jumped to the 1st position within 12 days.
Another member from Uttarey, Shimla, went from 32nd to 2nd position in just 8 days.
A restaurant owner from Tamil Nadu, previously ranked 14th, reached the 1st position within 4 days using the Hotelathon strategies.
A group of hotels in Bihar struggled with occupancy, employee loyalty, and guest satisfaction. After implementing just one strategy I suggested, the owner returned after three months with remarkable results – revenue increased, employee loyalty improved, and the hotel’s rating jumped from 4.0 to 4.6 and ranking 2nd on Google in their city
These stories are just a few examples of how powerful the right strategies can be when implemented consistently. Every week, community members share screenshots of their rankings, new reviews, and guest feedback, creating a culture of continuous learning and success.
What are some common misconceptions hotel owners have about automation, SEO, and digital growth when you first meet them?
When I first meet hotel owners, many of them are unaware of how much time and revenue they are losing by not automating their sales process. They think that automation will take away the personal touch, but in reality, it actually enhances guest interactions by allowing hotel owners to respond faster and more consistently. Inside my community, I teach them how to use automation to streamline guest communication, follow-ups, and review management – ultimately increasing direct bookings and multiplying revenue.
When it comes to SEO, most hoteliers think it’s too complicated or expensive. But once they join the community and start implementing simple, step-by-step strategies, they realize how achievable it actually is. SEO isn’t just for big hotels with big budgets – it’s for every hotel that wants to attract more direct bookings without relying solely on OTAs.
Regarding digital growth, many hotel owners initially believe it’s just about posting on social media. But digital growth is far more comprehensive. It includes building an ecosystem that integrates social media, Google Business Profile, YouTube, funnel building, email marketing, and performance marketing. Once they understand how these elements work together, they’re able to create a sustainable lead generation system that works for them 24/7.
Many owners believe marketing is just about social media. How do you help them think bigger?
I help hotel owners look beyond just posting on social media. I teach them how to build a complete marketing ecosystem that includes funnel building, email marketing, retargeting, and performance marketing. This way, they’re not just waiting for people to see their social media posts – they’re actively creating pathways that turn lookers into bookers. This approach allows them to get predictable, consistent bookings without relying on OTAs or third-party platforms.
Tell us about the biggest transformation you've witnessed—a property that went from low visibility to high-performing through your methods.
One of the most impactful transformations was a hotel from Visakhapatnam. When they joined the community, they were struggling with a 46% occupancy rate, which was significantly below market average. I guided them through a step-by-step strategy that included SEO, guest review management, and content marketing. Within a short span of time, they jumped to 86% occupancy – a remarkable increase that not only boosted revenue but also lifted team morale. It’s stories like these that show how powerful small, consistent actions can be when executed strategically.
You expect hotel owners to be more hands-on in their learning journey. What’s one thing they should stop doing and one thing they should start doing immediately?
Stop relying solely on OTAs and third-party platforms for bookings. Instead, start building your own direct booking system – a system that includes Google Business Profile optimization, email marketing, and automation tools that drive guests directly to your website. Inside my community, I teach hotel owners how to create these systems, so they’re not at the mercy of third-party commissions.
What kind of learning and development initiatives do you encourage hotel GMs and owners to adopt across sales and marketing teams?
First, set clear monthly targets and communicate them to every team member. Most hotel owners keep revenue figures to themselves, but when employees know what the hotel is aiming for, they can take ownership of their roles.
Second, implement regular challenges and incentive programs to keep the team motivated. Whether it’s a 7-day Reels Challenge to boost online visibility or a 14-day Review Challenge to increase guest feedback, these initiatives drive action and build momentum.
Lastly, celebrate every win – no matter how small. Whether it’s a team member getting a 5-star review or a successful upsell, acknowledge it publicly. This creates a positive culture of appreciation and continuous learning.
If we invited you to teach a session for the Hospemag Trainers Guild, what topics would you be most excited to lead?
I would be thrilled to teach a session on 'Turning Lookers into Bookers.' I would cover how to create a compelling guest journey that converts social media followers, website visitors, and email subscribers into paying guests. This includes storytelling techniques, funnel building, and guest experience strategies that work across multiple touchpoints.
Looking ahead, what’s next for Hotel Growth Hub—any upcoming tools, partnerships, or certifications in the works?
Hotel Growth Hub is evolving every single day. We’re constantly innovating with new challenges, tools, and strategies to keep members engaged and ahead of the competition.
One major initiative is the launch of our first-ever physical event at the end of 2025. After years of connecting virtually, we plan to bring our entire community together for a live event – a platform where hotel owners can learn, network, and celebrate their successes in person.
We’re also exploring partnerships with advanced CRM and automation tools to integrate more robust systems for our members. Additionally, we’re developing more structured courses and certifications to help hotel owners and their teams master sales, marketing, and guest experience strategies in a systematic way.
The goal is to keep expanding our ecosystem, so every hotel owner in India has access to the resources, support, and community they need to thrive in today’s competitive landscape.
Arunkumar Raman is the founder of Hotel Growth Hub and a Hotel Growth Coach on a mission to help 100,000 Indian hoteliers boost direct bookings and revenue. Hailing from the UNESCO-recognized Badaga community in Ooty, hospitality runs in his blood.
With 25+ years of industry grind across India and Dubai, Arun now powers a community of 4,000+ hoteliers through smart sales automation, SEO, and digital tactics. His programs—like Hotelathon and the Hotel Growth Formula—turn small hotels into booking magnets.
No hype, no fluff—just tech, tactics, and a tribe that wins together.
Next up: AI tools, big partnerships, and a nationwide hotel revolution.
Website: www.arunkumarraman.com