"Aim to operate 100 properties by March 2025"

Founder and CEO of The Hosteller, Pranav Dangi shares insights into the rapid expansion of India's biggest brand-operated chain of backpacker hostels that foster community and culture.

- VINODINI RAO

Pranav Dangi, founder and CEO of The Hosteller - India's biggest brand-operated chain of backpacker hostels, is the driving force behind the venture. He has reshaped the travel experience for backpackers with his innovative and tech-driven hospitality solutions. With an impressive career spanning over nine years, he has overseen the establishment of 55+ self-operated backpacker hostels across the country establishing The Hosteller as India's smartest hospitality brand.

His journey as the founder and CEO of Hosteller began in January 2015 and since then, he has transformed it into a thriving network of backpacker hostels that provide a perfect pit-stop for global and local travellers seeking a clean, safe and smart place to stay.

What inspired you to start The Hosteller in 2015? How did you identify the gap in the Indian hospitality market for backpacker hostels?

The Hosteller was founded in 2014 with the vision of creating affordable, accessible, and community-driven backpacker hostels for the 'young at heart' traveller. During my travels across Europe, I experienced how backpacker hostels were thriving as hubs of community and cultural exchange. However, in India despite its rich, diverse culture and increasing number of travellers, there was a noticeable gap in affordable, social accommodations that catered to the growing demand for experiential travel.

I identified this gap through my own backpacking experiences, realising that young travellers, especially solo explorers, were looking for budget-friendly accommodations that offered more than just a bed. They wanted spaces where they could meet likeminded people, share stories, and explore local cultures together. In 2014, while the solo travel trend was beginning to gain momentum, India lacked a standardised hostel chain for this demographic. With solo travel increasing by nearly 40% annually, it was clear there was an opportunity to create something meaningful.