Latest news with #EncalmHospitality
Time of India
27-05-2025
- Business
- Time of India
Travel Super App: HOI Soars Towards Super App Status with AI Concierge and Strategic Partnerships, ET TravelWorld
Advt Advt By , ETTravelWorld Join the community of 2M+ industry professionals Subscribe to our newsletter to get latest insights & analysis. Download ETTravelWorld App Get Realtime updates Save your favourite articles Scan to download App In a rapidly evolving aviation landscape, where convenience and connectivity are becoming key differentiators, travel-tech platform HOI is quietly reshaping how Indian passengers experience airports. With services now operational at major airports including Delhi, Hyderabad, and Goa's Manohar International Airport, HOI is on a mission to reduce travel anxiety and make the airport experience smoother, smarter, and more intuitive—especially for India's growing segment of frequent flyers and corporate travellers Speaking exclusively to ETTravelWorld, Dhruv Godara , Deputy CEO of HOI, offered a deep dive into the platform's growth, strategic roadmap, and the newly inked partnership with Encalm Hospitality, which marks another leap in HOI's ambition to become a comprehensive travel super app "Like all good startups, we started with a problem statement," says Dhruv, reflecting on HOI's founding vision in 2018–19. "Air travel is inherently stressful. The need to report early, understand gate changes, wait times—all of it creates uncertainty and anxiety." This observation laid the groundwork for building a platform that integrates airport infrastructure with passenger-facing services—from real-time flight updates and gate wait times to lounge access and duty-free partnerships with high-footfall airports like Delhi and Hyderabad helped the company validate its product-market fit. 'Access to airport systems—like people monitoring, congestion tracking, and operational databases—was key,' Dhruv explains. These integrations now form the backbone of HOI's defensibility, making it harder for competitors to replicate at most recent example of HOI's expanding ecosystem is its partnership with Encalm Hospitality, provider of the Atithya meet-and-greet service. As part of this collaboration, international passengers at Delhi, Hyderabad, and Goa airports who book Atithya services will receive a complimentary international eSIM, valid in over 90 countries.'Connectivity is no longer a luxury—it's a necessity,' says Dhruv. 'By integrating eSIM distribution with premium airport hospitality, we're tackling a real-world problem for travellers: staying connected without hassle or high roaming charges.'Passengers can redeem the eSIM by scanning a QR code at the lounge—no paperwork, no waiting. It's part of what Dhruv calls the "invisible experience"—where technology works quietly in the background to simplify complex moments during vision extends far beyond terminals and tarmacs. The platform is actively evolving into a travel super app—one that aggregates flights, hotels, airport services , cabs, e-commerce, and more into a single ecosystem."We're launching an AI concierge agent that will act as a digital travel assistant ,' Dhruv reveals. 'Tell it your destination, budget, and dates, and it will recommend flights, hotels, book your airport cab, notify you of deals, and even pre-order duty-free items.'This AI-driven experience is designed to make travel hyper-personalised—nudging users to take action at the right moment. 'Our goal isn't just to offer services, but to present them in a meaningful, intuitive way,' he business model is clearly tilted toward India's booming frequent traveller segment—especially corporate passengers who often navigate airports multiple times a month. 'If a traveller is coming to the airport more than five or six times a year, that's our user persona,' says this end, HOI is building out hotel and flight aggregation engines tailored for corporate use. A loyalty program is already live at Hyderabad Airport, with plans to extend it to Delhi and Goa. A subscription model and OTA integrations are also in the works.'We are speaking with OTAs and travel agents for bundling HOI services,' Dhruv confirms. 'We aim to offer a plug-and-play loyalty solution that integrates directly into corporate travel workflows.'Despite strong presence and deep integrations, HOI has largely operated under the radar. That's set to change. "Until now, we were focused on building tech and securing partnerships,' Dhruv says. 'But now we're pushing on brand awareness and user acquisition.'From digital marketing and influencer tie-ups to IPL-themed campaigns and airport activations, HOI is now focused on scale. 'We've reached a stage where the foundation is solid. Now we're ready to create buzz and scale across geographies.'On the international front, Dhruv remains cautious but optimistic. 'It's premature to name locations, but we're in conversations to expand our platform beyond India,' he an age of hyperconnectivity and digital convenience, HOI represents a new kind of travel infrastructure—one that complements physical airport systems with intuitive digital layers. Whether it's notifying you of a gate change, suggesting a meal at your terminal, or helping you book a cab home, HOI's mission is clear: to reduce friction and amplify delight in every stage of air Dhruv succinctly puts it: 'We want HOI to be the go-to app for travellers—not just at the airport, but for the entire journey.'
Time of India
23-05-2025
- Business
- Time of India
Hoi and Encalm Lounge partner to enhance passenger experience with seamless connectivity solutions
New Delhi: Hoi, India's innovative travel-tech platform revolutionising airport experiences, has announced a strategic collaboration with Encalm Hospitality, a frontrunner in premium airport services . As part of this partnership, guests booking Atithya, Encalm's flagship Meet & Greet services, will now enjoy complimentary international eSIM data—valid in over 90 countries—ensuring effortless connectivity the moment they step off the plane. This offering will be available to passengers availing Atithya services at Encalm's airport locations in Indira Gandhi International Airport, Delhi, Rajiv Gandhi International Airport, Hyderabad, and Manohar International Airport, Goa. The initiative directly addresses a significant travel challenge—staying connected abroad without the inconvenience of purchasing physical SIM cards or incurring expensive roaming charges. The redemption process has been designed to be seamless: passengers simply scan a QR code available at Encalm lounges or with Encalm associates at the airport to instantly access mobile data, with no paperwork or waiting required. Vikas Sharma, Group Chief Executive Officer, Encalm Hospitality, said, in a statement: 'At Encalm, we've always believed that exceptional airport experiences begin with understanding and anticipating the needs of the traveller. Our partnership with HOI represents a perfect synergy between premium hospitality and innovative technology, addressing one of the most immediate concerns for international travellers. This collaboration reflects our ongoing commitment to elevating the airport experience through thoughtful innovations that combine human touch with digital enablement. As airports become increasingly dynamic, our focus remains on creating moments of simplicity and delight that make travel memorable for the right reasons.' by Taboola by Taboola Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like Play War Thunder now for free War Thunder Play Now Undo Dhruv Godara, Deputy CEO, HOI, said: 'By integrating complementary eSIM solutions with premium airport services, we're fundamentally transforming how travellers transition between countries. In today's digital-first world, staying connected is no longer a luxury but a necessity, and this partnership reflects our commitment to removing barriers throughout the passenger journey. Together with Encalm, we're creating an ecosystem where technology and hospitality converge to deliver experiences that are truly intuitive, seamlessly connected, and remarkably fluid.' This partnership marks the latest development in HOI's growing ecosystem of airport-related services and collaborations. HOI has already transformed the travel experience across major Indian airports—including Delhi, Hyderabad, and New Goa (GOX)—through its comprehensive suite of services. The platform leverages sophisticated integration with airport infrastructure systems to deliver real-time flight information with unprecedented accuracy, transforming traditional airport processes into seamless digital experiences. Live Events
Time of India
22-05-2025
- Business
- Time of India
Vikas Sharma Takes Charge as Group CEO of Encalm Hospitality to Redefine Airport Experiences, ET TravelWorld
People 1 min read Vikas Sharma appointed Group CEO at Encalm Hospitality Encalm Hospitality has appointed Vikas Sharma as Group Chief Executive Officer, marking a key leadership change as the firm expands its presence in Indian airports. Sharma, a hospitality veteran with over 25 years of experience, is expected to guide the company through its next phase of growth, including the evolution of lounges into multi-service experiential spaces.
