Stayzilla to expand focus on alternate homestay options; to tie up with branded chains

BENGALURU: Stayzilla, an online aggregator of budget accommodation, is expanding its focus on customised and alternate homestay options.

It has launched a mobile app that will help potential hosts with unique offerings to connect with travellers looking for such experience.

Stayzilla offers more than 35,000 stay options in over 4,000 locations. It also plans to tie up with branded chains in the coming months, as founder and chief executive Yogendra Vasupal says the potential for growth is huge.

"Today, India's stay market is large and fragmented with shortage of close to one million rooms... creating a huge opportunity for expansion and growth," he said."Moreover, there is a whole new breed of travellers who are looking at customised and personalised homestay options."

The mobile app has selective filters for hosts to choose the kind of travellers they would like to host. It also allows users to look for stays that match their own requirements such as food preferences and travel type.

A special 'tribe' feature enables the host to select travellers based on shared interests and passions.