Rs 3,500 crore Shark Tank judge wanted Rs 100 shaving foam during 5-star hotel stay. He got a big business insight instead

There was a time when five-star hotels defined luxury — crisp linens, round-the-clock room service, and staff who could get you anything with a phone call. But today, that idea of “premium” comfort is being challenged by something faster, cheaper, and way more efficient — your smartphone. From food to grooming kits, quick commerce apps are redefining convenience, and even billionaires are noticing how slow the old “hospitality” model feels in comparison.

Snapdeal co-founder and Shark Tank India judge Kunal Bahl, whose networth, as per Financial Express, is Rs 3,500 crore, recently shared a moment from his business trip that summed this up perfectly. He ran out of shaving foam and called the hotel concierge for a simple Rs 100 can. What followed was a comedy of delays — multiple calls, confusion, and finally, the hotel suggesting they’d have to send someone to the market in the hotel car and bill him for it.

Instead, Bahl pulled out his phone, placed an order on a quick commerce app, and had the shaving foam at his door in just six minutes — faster than it took the concierge to even confirm availability. His takeaway? The hotel industry, once the gold standard of service, seems to be falling behind in understanding what today’s consumers actually expect.


He explained how almost every experience that used to be exclusive to hotels has been outdone by modern alternatives. Need food? Delivery apps offer tastier options at better prices. Craving coffee? The café down the street serves a far better brew than that overpriced machine cappuccino. Want a massage? Urban Company will send someone home — no appointment drama required.



Bahl summed it up sharply: hotels are turning into “just a roof over your head.” The amenities that once defined them are now easily replaced — and improved upon — by faster, smarter services outside their walls. It’s a wake-up call from a billionaire who’s built his career on understanding customer behaviour. If hotels want to stay relevant in this on-demand world, they’ll have to rethink what real luxury means — and it might just start with a can of shaving foam.