Zostel enters premium hospitality with Zo Selections

MUMBAI: Zostel is checking into a new chapter and this time, there are no bunk beds in sight. The backpacker hostel chain has launched Zo Selections, a premium social hospitality vertical under parent company Zo World, with Zo Selections Jaipur by Zostel as its first property.

The new address combines private rooms and jacuzzi suites with the social character that has long been associated with Zostel. The idea is to cater to travellers who may have moved beyond hostel dorms but have not necessarily moved on from the community-driven experiences that brought them to the brand in the first place.

That shift reflects the evolution of Zostel’s own customer base. From a single 24-bed hostel in Jodhpur in 2013, the company has grown to around 5,000 beds across India, Nepal and Thailand, clocked more than 5 million journeys and built what it describes as India’s largest community of young travellers.

Many of those early backpackers are now in their thirties and travelling with partners, parents and colleagues. Zo Selections is positioned as an answer to that changing travel pattern, offering more privacy and premium amenities without losing the social element.

In Jaipur, that translates into Pink City-inspired interiors, expansive common areas, dedicated workstations, bonfires, workshops and sundowners. The property also houses Amaano, its in-house restaurant serving Rajasthani flavours.

Aviral Gupta, CEO of Zostel, said the company did not want to create another conventional five-star hotel, but instead build a premium format around the community it has developed over the past 13 years. He said Jaipur was the starting point rather than the destination for the new vertical.

Zo Selections is built around three broad principles: service designed to anticipate guests’ needs, design influenced by local culture and craftsmanship, and personalised experiences based on how travellers want to spend their time.

The Jaipur property is only the opening act. A second Zo Selections property is planned for Gokarna, designed as a coastal retreat focused on slower travel, while the broader roadmap includes Mussoorie, Pench and Lonavla.

The premium vertical joins Zo World’s existing hospitality portfolio, which includes Zostel Plus, offering more premium hostel stays; Zostel Homes, focused on nature-led escapes; and Zo House, described as India’s first permanent hacker house network.

The launch comes as Zo World accelerates its wider expansion. Over the past year, Zostel opened its 100th property and entered international markets with its first overseas location in Phuket. Its European presence has also expanded through Safestay across more than 20 destinations.

The group is now working towards a target of 10,000 beds, with Zo Selections providing its formal entry into the premium hospitality segment.

For Zostel, then, the business is moving beyond the backpacker bunk but keeping the backpacker spirit in the room.