Exploring Indian homestays with SaffronStays

Over the past decade-plus, the Indian hospitality landscape has witnessed significant transformations, with unique and personalised experiences taking centre stage. In a refreshing shift, Indian hospitality is stepping into a new chapter with homestays. This isn't just a stay; it's an immersion into the heart of India, one homestay at a time. Mumbai-based SaffronStays, are pioneering this trend, offering a unique alternative to traditional hotels. It is a brand that has redefined luxury homestays, offering experiences that cater to sophisticated travellers. Founded by Devendra and Tejas Parulekar, SaffronStays has grown from a single property to managing over more than 200, carving a niche in the competitive world of hospitality.

The inspiration for SaffronStays originated from the founders’ personal travel experiences. Devendra and Tejas preferred staying at Bed and Breakfasts (BnBs) during their international trips, enjoying the personalised experiences and the unique, memorable moments they provided. “We loved how these stays allowed us to customise our experiences and create memorable family moments. We felt this concept needed to be introduced in India, providing families the same opportunity,” shares the couple.

The breakthrough came when the Parulekar’s secured Parsi Manor in Matheran, marking the inception of SaffronStays. Today, their portfolio spans over 290 properties, each promising a bespoke experience. However, the launch was fraught with numerous challenges. Around that time, the homestay industry in India was at an infantile stage, lacking established benchmarks or success stories to emulate. The founders had to navigate a steep learning curve, adapting to each obstacle with resilience and innovation. “There were no clear benchmarks or success stories to replicate so we had to learn and adapt with each challenge we faced. This learning curve was steep but invaluable,” the couple recounts. Today, their experience in overcoming these challenges allows them to offer comprehensive solutions to others looking to venture into the BnB business.

The founders’ backgrounds played a crucial role in the success of their business. Tejas, with her expertise in Chartered Accountancy, and Devendra, with his experience in Cyber Security, provided a great foundation for SaffronStays. “Our backgrounds provided us with a solid foundation in financial management, strategic planning and operational efficiency,” explains Tejas, adding, “This expertise was crucial in establishing a sustainable business model and we were able to meticulously plan our finances.”

Ensuring quality and consistency
Maintaining a consistent and high-quality experience across a diverse range of properties is a significant challenge that SaffronStays has mastered. “We ensure the first through stringent audits and maintenance protocols, guaranteeing all properties meet our high standards of hygiene and beauty,” say the Parulekars. Additionally, the company organises unique experiences at its villas, such as barbecue nights, open-air movie screenings and kayaking, ensuring guests have memorable stays. “This dual focus ensures a consistently high-quality experience across all our properties,” they add.

Strategic growth and key milestones
Customer obsession has been the cornerstone of SaffronStays’ growth strategy. “Our biggest focus has been customer obsession, constantly upgrading the quality of our products and service, focussing on a few geographies rather than spreading ourselves too thin, keeping a tight control on our costs and leveraging bleeding edge technology to stay ahead of competitors,” the duo adds. Rather than reckless investing funds on luxuries, SaffronStays invested in technology and product quality, delivering exceptional value to guests. This approach has fostered strong customer loyalty, who would drive organic growth. “While we raised investor money, we instead invested that in technology and product quality - delivering value to our guests – who, in turn, do our marketing – customer loyalty to advocacy,” they explain.

Hospitality standard maintenance
SaffronStays distinguishes itself with warm hospitality and authentic home-cooked meals. Employing local chefs proficient in regional cuisines ensures that meals are both authentic and delicious. “We also provide regular training and maintain a rigorous quality control process to ensure consistency. Feedback from guests is actively sought and acted upon to continuously improve and maintain our high standards,” the couple adds.

An eye towards the future
Looking ahead, SaffronStays is all set to expand into new regions, including Goa, Udaipur and select destinations in South India. These expansions are part of their strategic growth plan, aimed at continuing to create unforgettable experiences for their guests. The founders’ determination and commitment to outworking and outlasting their competitors underpin their vision for sustained growth and success.