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OYO survey reveals ‘safety’ as determining factor for women travellers
New Delhi: OYO, India’s largest hotel network, recently conducted a survey among its women customers to unearth trends on how Indian women like to travel. The data is based on research conducted among 400 women in the age group 18-60+ across different locations in India, including Delhi, Maharashtra, Karnataka, Rajasthan, Odisha, Telangana and Madhya Pradesh.
The survey threw up some interesting findings:
● 37% respondents reported travelling only for leisure, while 53% travelled for both work and leisure.
● Women appear to be more conscientious workers, or at least those with less disposable time on their hands as only 51% reported clubbing a work trip with personal break, while 23% claimed they had never considered it
● 27% respondents said they preferred travelling solo – of this, 36% said they enjoyed it but 33% said they had to opt for it because it was “difficult matching schedules with friends or companions”
● Friends (57%) rank higher than Family (51%) as “preferred travel companions” for women, but partners reign supreme at 62%
● Personal research via internet and magazines ranks higher (78%) than recommendations from friends & family (51%) while choosing a travel destination. Social media came third (32%) and movies trailed the last (12%) when it came to sparking travel inspiration. Kuch Kuch Nahee Hota?
● “Safety” ranked as the #1 factor followed by “cost of trip” when it came to selecting a travel destination
● Contrary to expectations, 69% women opted for budget hotels over five-star hotels (18%) while 6% preferred to stay in a hostel while travelling
● 10% respondents had never stayed with friends or family while travelling, but all had “often” or “sometimes” stayed at a budget hotel!
● While 10% women totally shot down the idea of impulsive trips, accommodation (52%) was the biggest concern followed by expense (29%) due to booking at short-notice
● Budget hotels (35%) topped the choice of accommodation for women travelling solo, followed by staying with friends or family (25%)
Commenting on the findings, Abhinav Sinha, COO – OYO said, “Technology has brought about paradigm shifts in the way we live and work. Nowhere is this more evident than travel. From buying tickets to booking hotels and renting home-stays – the balance of power and choice has shifted to the customer. Businesses that keep a pulse on their customers to identify their expressed and evolving needs are able serve them better. Women are a significant set of travellers – undertaking travel for both personal and business reasons. Not surprisingly, 80% women reported that they take charge of their travel plans, often in consultation with friends or family. 52% reported that they liked taking impulsive trips – but interestingly more than half listed accommodation as their biggest concern. As service-providers it is important that we equip ourselves to serve the needs and expectations of this growing cohort.”
OYO is the pioneer of affordable, predictable accommodation in the Indian hospitality sector. It offers several consumer friendly touch-points such as the OYO App which enables guests to control every aspect of their experience – from booking hotel and cabs, to ordering food – all from their smartphone. Recently, the company introduced OYO Captains, a unique concierge service to ensure smooth travelling and on-stay experience. OYO currently operates over 70,000 rooms in 200 cities in India and Malaysia.
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YES Bank hands the keys to SBI veteran Vinay Tonse as it bets on a new era
Former SBI managing director appointed as YES Bank’s new MD and CEO
MUMBAI: YES Bank is done rebuilding. Now it wants to grow. The private sector lender has appointed Vinay Muralidhar Tonse as managing director and chief executive officer-designate, with RBI approval secured and a start date of April 6, 2026 confirmed. The three-year term signals the bank’s intent to shift gears from crisis recovery to full-throttle expansion.
Tonse, 60, is no stranger to scale. Most recently managing director at State Bank of India, he oversaw a retail book of roughly $800bn in deposits and advances, one of the largest in the country. Before that, he ran SBI Mutual Fund from August 2020 to December 2022, a stint that saw assets under management surge from Rs 4.32 lakh crore to Rs 7.32 lakh crore across market cycles. Add stints in Singapore and four years leading SBI’s overseas operations in Osaka, and the incoming chief arrives with a genuinely global CV.
His academic grounding is equally solid: a commerce degree from St Joseph’s College of Commerce, Bengaluru, and a master’s in commerce from Bangalore University.
The appointment follows an extensive search and evaluation process by the bank’s Nomination and Remuneration Committee. NRC chairperson Nandita Gurjar said the committee unanimously backed Tonse, citing his leadership track record, governance credentials and ability to drive the bank’s next phase of transformation.
Non-executive chairman Rama Subramaniam Gandhi was unequivocal. “I am certain that Vinay Tonse, with his vast experience as a senior banker, will propel YES Bank to its next phase of growth,” Gandhi said, adding that the bank remains focused on strengthening its retail and corporate banking franchises and expanding its branch network.
Rajeev Kannan, non-executive director and senior executive at Sumitomo Mitsui Banking Corporation, the bank’s largest shareholder, said Tonse’s experience across retail, corporate banking, global markets and asset management positioned him well to lead the lender. SMBC said it looks forward to working with Tonse and the board as YES Bank pursues its ambition of becoming a top-tier private sector lender anchored in strong governance and sustainable growth.
Tonse succeeds Prashant Kumar, who took the helm in March 2020 when YES Bank was in freefall following a severe financial crisis, and spent six years painstakingly stabilising the institution, rebuilding governance and restoring operational scale. Gandhi was generous: “The bank remains indebted to Prashant Kumar, who is responsible for much of what a strong financial powerhouse YES Bank is today.”
Tonse, for his part, struck a purposeful note. “Together with the board and my colleagues, I remain deeply committed to creating long-term value for all our stakeholders,” he said, pledging to build on Kumar’s foundation guided by his personal motto: Make A Difference.
Beyond the balance sheet, Tonse played cricket at college and club level and represented Karnataka in archery at the national championships — sports he credits with teaching him teamwork, situational leadership, discipline and focus. In quieter moments, he reaches for retro Kannada music, classic Hindi songs, and the crooning of Engelbert Humperdinck, Mukesh and Kishore Kumar.
YES Bank has its steady-handed rebuilder in Kumar to thank for survival. Now it has a scale-obsessed growth banker at the wheel. The next chapter starts April 6.
