Goibibo Launches GoStays, Budget Rooms Marketplace

Online travel aggregator Goibibo.com announced the launch of GoStays, which aggregates unbranded budget accommodations across India.

The standardised budget room experience includes free Wi-Fi, breakfast, AC, TV, and hygenic washrooms. Bookings are backed by a moneyback guarantee, the company said.

GoStays accomodations will feature user reviews and ratings, and will also be available to book on other Goibibo network properties like redBus and SeatSeller, the company said.

Goibibo wants to position GoStays as an Amazon marketplace model, allowing other branded budget players to be listed on the platform. The co-branded properties won't take away from the long term brand identity of the hotel, the company said.

The platform is live in 72 cities, 862 properties, translating to 10,000 rooms a day, the company said. At the time of publishing, the website listed 88 hotels in Bengaluru, ranging from Rs. 630 to Rs. 3,300.

The Goibibo mobile app has crossed 7 million downloads, growing by 1 million new installs per month, the company claimed, adding that it is now the largest hotels aggregator in the country, having registered 5x growth in the last year.

Ibibo group is owned by Naspers, a South African media conglomerate that has invested $10 million (roughly Rs. 66 crores) in the firm.