The Blue Kite Soars: Redefining Hospitality with Trust, Tech and Sustainability

From day one, we set out to solve two things: transparency for homeowners and reliability for guests. Since the start, we’ve focused on doing the simple things really well, selecting the right homes, building strong operational systems, and using tech to make the experience seamless and transparent for everyone involved. We treat every home we manage as if it were our own, that mindset has helped us earn the trust of homeowners and create memorable stays for guests. The pandemic only accelerated a shift we were already seeing - people started looking for well-managed, home-like spaces where they could truly holiday. Our ability to offer that, consistently, is what’s allowed us to grow steadily.

2. Your roots were in Goa, but now The Blue Kite is entering urban markets like Delhi, and soon, Bangalore and Gurgaon. What’s the opportunity you see in these non-traditional hospitality destinations?

We’ve been present in Delhi for some time now and currently operate 9 properties across the city and we’re continuing to grow that footprint. What we’ve seen is a consistent demand for professionally run, home-like spaces for tourism, long stays, business travel, and medical tourism. Cities like Delhi, Bangalore, and Gurgaon aren’t seasonal, which makes them ideal for sustained occupancy and steady operations.

What makes these markets exciting is the shift we’re seeing in guest preferences. People are looking for spaces with utmost privacy, comfort, and flexibility. By offering fully serviced homes, warm meals, and top-notch hospitality, we’re able to meet those needs in a way that feels personal but is backed by operational consistency. Expanding into Bangalore and Gurgaon is a natural extension of that vision.

3. The Blue Kite operates at the intersection of technology and hospitality. Could you share how your proprietary tech tools are elevating the guest and homeowner experience?

At The Blue Kite, technology is central to how we deliver trust, consistency, and ease - not just for guests, but for our internal teams and homeowners.

Our proprietary Property Management System and mobile app empower our on-ground staff with real-time access to booking updates and service requests, enabling them to respond promptly and maintain consistently high hospitality standards across all our homes. The platform also streamlines administrative tasks such as ID proof collection, documentation, and expense management, allowing our operations team to spend more time with guests and less time behind a desk. This technology is the backbone of our ability to deliver seamless service - anytime, anywhere. 

On the homeowner side, the app offers complete transparency and control. Homeowners can log in anytime, from anywhere, to see live booking updates, track how many days their property is occupied, block dates for personal use, access all invoices, and view revenue generated. It’s a fully integrated, real-time window into their home - designed to make them feel informed and in control.

4. You’ve spoken about wanting to make hospitality more seamless, transparent, and responsible. How do those values translate into everyday operations?

Seamlessness, transparency, and responsibility shape how we operate every single day. Transparency comes through clearly in the tools we’ve built, like our Homeowner App, which gives property owners real-time visibility into bookings, revenue, invoices, and the flexibility to block dates for personal use. That kind of openness builds trust, and we don’t take that lightly.

Seamlessness is something our guests experience through on ground teams that are deeply familiar with each home and their locality. 

And responsibility is reflected in how we care for the homes we manage, the teams we employ, the guests we host, and the environments we operate in. Whether it’s choosing biodegradable cleaning products or partnering with local vendors, sustainability and accountability sit at the heart of every decision we make.

5. Your guest ratings on platforms like Google and Airbnb are consistently high. What do you think sets your properties apart in terms of guest satisfaction?

Guest satisfaction is the reason we exist. We often say that the best hospitality is the kind you barely notice because everything just works. But getting to that point takes a lot of behind-the-scenes effort. Regular training with industry experts, strong operational systems, and empowered local teams who know the homes inside out, that’s what allows us to deliver consistency. Our teams are trained to really pay attention to the smallest of things - it’s remembering how someone takes their coffee or noticing when a guest wants space, we put people at the center of everything we do.

We also know that letting someone into your home, or walking into someone else’s, takes a certain level of trust. We take that responsibility seriously. Every last-minute request, and early morning check-in we’ve been there, and we’re always ready. That’s why we’re proud of the ratings we’ve consistently received 4.9 on Google, 4.8 on Airbnb.

6. Sustainability is a core value for The Blue Kite. Could you elaborate on some of your initiatives that promote responsible tourism?

Tourism, while beautiful, also brings with it a significant amount of waste and we see that impact up close, especially in places like Goa. That’s why garbage segregation is standard across all our homes. It’s a simple but critical step in managing the environmental footprint of hospitality, and it helps us ensure that we’re not adding to the problem while delivering a high-quality guest experience. Our homes with Vianaar also come with central cut-off switches, a small feature that saves over 6,000 units of electricity each year.  Also, we’ve moved to WHO-approved, chemical-free cleaning supplies that are safer for our staff and kinder to the planet.

In Goa, we go a step further, organising regular beach clean-ups and tree plantation drives with our team. We’re also working on new features that will allow guests to participate in these initiatives - from supporting local sustainability projects to offsetting the carbon footprint of their stay.

7. The Blue Kite also supports local ecosystems – from Goan brands to inclusive hiring. Why is local impact such an important part of your business model?

We hire local teams, work with small businesses, and collaborate with regional vendors. All our Guest Relations Managers and Executives are trained to actively recommend local experiences from homegrown cafés and wellness practitioners to artists and independent stores. These are the kinds of connections that create real value on both sides - for our guests, and for the communities we operate in. We also promote many of these small businesses through our own marketing channels from newsletters to social media because we believe visibility is powerful. And our operations rely heavily on local service partners - electricians, cleaners, cooks, drivers, gardeners - many of whom have been with us for years.

For us, local impact is about reciprocity. If we’re building homes in a place, we need to make sure we’re giving back to it - economically, culturally, and socially. That’s the only way we know how to grow.

8. What role does female leadership play at The Blue Kite, and how do you personally view your responsibility as a woman at the helm of a growing hospitality brand?

Women hold key leadership roles across our organization, from operations and revenue to guest experience and property management. It’s not just about representation; it’s about building a team where diverse perspectives actively shape how we grow. As a woman leading a hospitality brand, I don’t take that visibility lightly. I see it as a responsibility to create a workplace where opportunity is based on merit.

9. You’re catering not just to holidaymakers but also to long-stay business travellers and even homeowners looking for rental income. How are you balancing such diverse guest needs?

Post-COVID travel has evolved from quick getaways to longer, more meaningful stays. Today’s travellers, whether digital nomads, business professionals, or city dwellers seeking weekend escapes, are looking for immersive, flexible experiences. A month-long work-from-anywhere stint in Goa with strong Wi‑Fi or a spontaneous retreat in the hills has become the new normal.

To meet this demand, we offer attractive weekly and monthly discounts, making our homes ideal for extended stays. Personalisation is at the heart of our service, whether it’s organising a beach BBQ with friends, setting up a surprise proposal, or curating cultural experiences like cycling tours on Chorao Island. Each of our homes is fully equipped, from functional kitchens to comfortable workspaces, offering guests the freedom to define the length and nature of their stay without compromising on comfort or connection.

10. Finally, what’s next for The Blue Kite – where do you see the brand heading by the end of 2025 and beyond?

By the end of 2025, we plan to onboard 60 additional homes across India, expanding our presence while maintaining the high standards we are known for. And of course, build a deeper presence in cities like Delhi, Bangalore, and Gurgaon. Urban markets are especially exciting because they offer year-round demand, and we’re tailoring our offering there to meet the needs of long-stay business travellers with fully serviced homes and flexible stays. Our focus remains on quality over quantity by building long-term partnerships with homeowners, delivering guest experiences that feel like home, and continuing to raise the bar for responsible, tech-enabled hospitality across both leisure and urban destinations.

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