Husain Khatumdi, Managing Director & Co-Founder, EkoStay
From transforming 40 homes to building India's leading premium vacation rental network, Husain Khatumdi has been the strategic force behind EkoStay's rapid rise. In this candid interview, the Managing Director & Co-Founder shares how his global entrepreneurial education, obsession with backend innovation, and a data-led mindset continue to power EkoStay's growth. He unpacks the role of technology in delivering seamless guest experiences, the metrics that truly matter, and how Gen Z and millennial preferences are shaping the future of leisure travel in India. With a national footprint and a clear vision, Husain is now steering EkoStay toward its next chapter anchored in scale, sustainability, and customer-centric precision.
1. From 40 homes to a national footprint, what was the inflection point that truly scaled EkoStay?
The real turning point for Ekostay came post-2020, when the pandemic reshaped how people thought about travel. There was this sharp rise in demand for private, secure, and drive-to getaways and we were already positioned to deliver just that. But scale didn't happen overnight. We had spent the early years building a robust operational backbone, investing in tech, and earning homeowner trust. That groundwork meant we could respond to the demand surge without compromising on quality. Our ability to onboard properties quickly, maintain standardized service, and offer personalized stays across locations gave us the edge. It was less about chasing scale and more about being prepared when the market shifted.
2. How does your background in global entrepreneurship shape the way EkoStay approaches Indian leisure travel?
Studying in London and Australia gave me exposure to mature hospitality ecosystems and a deep respect for systems thinking. I understood early on that if we wanted to scale in India a highly fragmented and diverse market we couldn't rely on ad hoc solutions. My approach at EkoStay has always been to blend structure with flexibility: operational SOPs that work across geographies, yet leave room for local customization. We've applied global efficiency standards to a very Indian context, ensuring our properties reflect local charm while the backend runs like a well-oiled machine. That duality is what helps us offer both authenticity and reliability to our guests.
3. What role does technology play in transforming homestays into seamless guest experiences at EkoStay?
Tech is the silent engine behind EkoStay. On the surface, guests experience a warm, beautifully designed stay but behind the scenes, a lot is happening in real time. From managing guest communications to scheduling maintenance and tracking team responsiveness, everything is tech-enabled. Our proprietary app, for example, was developed to improve last-mile service things like food requests, check-in info, or local support are now a few clicks away. Technology helps us stay nimble even as we grow. It ensures a guest in Coorg gets the same quality experience as one in Lonavala, because the operational intelligence is standardized and data-backed.
4. As the "numbers guy," what key metrics do you track to measure success across properties?
Numbers are central to how I make decisions, but I don't look at them in isolation. Occupancy rate, average daily revenue, customer acquisition cost, and guest feedback scores are standard but I also look at cost-to-serve, turnaround time on complaints, and repeat booking ratios. If a property is doing well on paper but has service escalations, that's a red flag. I believe in creating dashboards that blend financial performance with guest sentiment and operational health. Data is powerful, but only when it's used to diagnose, predict, and improve not just report.
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5. How do you identify and curate properties that balance luxury, location, and profitability?
We follow a very structured property selection process. It starts with geography does this location make sense based on seasonality, demand patterns, and accessibility? Next, we assess the property's potential: Can it be upgraded to match our design and comfort standards? Finally, we run a financial model factoring in renovation costs, expected occupancy, local competition, and owner expectations. A villa may be beautiful, but if it can't sustain healthy returns, it doesn't fit our portfolio. What sets us apart is our ability to transform overlooked homes into aspirational getaways through smart design, cost engineering, and precise brand positioning.
6. What innovations are you bringing to the backend infrastructure that the average guest never sees but benefits from daily?
A lot of our innovation lies in making the invisible visible for our teams, not necessarily for guests. We've implemented predictive maintenance systems that use property data to trigger proactive checks, avoiding guest complaints before they arise. Our operations dashboard tracks housekeeping schedules, guest issues, and service delivery in real time. We've standardized vendor onboarding, digitized SOPs, and built a scalable training module for our teams. These may not be things the guest sees directly, but they shape how seamless, clean, and consistent every stay feels. It's that backend precision that enables front-end comfort.
7. What's your take on how Gen Z and millennial travel behaviors are shaping the future of homestays?
This demographic is rewriting the rules of hospitality. They want the independence of a rental, the design of a boutique hotel, and the convenience of a resort-all in one. They care about aesthetics, speed, and personalization. Reviews and social validation matter more than traditional star ratings. At EkoStay, we've embraced that shift. Our homes are curated not just for comfort, but for shareability. Our services are designed to be responsive, app-enabled, and intuitive. These travellers don't want a one-size-fits-all approach-they want choice and control. And we're building exactly that, while still offering the warmth and familiarity of a homestay.
8. What's next for EkoStay more homes, new cities, or an entirely new direction?
The goal is to deepen before we widen. We're focusing on strengthening our footprint in high-demand leisure markets and refining the end-to-end guest journey. Expansion is very much on the table-both within India and, eventually, internationally but it will be strategic. Alongside property growth, we're also scaling our food services, refining tech infrastructure, and investing in smarter guest support systems. Every new vertical we add is designed to enrich the stay experience. We're not chasing volume for the sake of it we're building a brand that lasts, with quality, consistency, and innovation at the core.
