05
News
www.asianhospitality.com
December/January 2025 | Issue 232
ndia-based Oravel Stays, parent
company of travel technology firm
Oyo, completed the previously
announced $525 million acquisition of G6
Hospitality from Blackstone Real Estate.
The company is also restructuring G6’s
leadership, replacing President and
CEO Julie Arrowsmith and other top
executives.
In September, Oravel Stays agreed to
acquire G6 Hospitality from Blackstone
Real Estate for $525 million in an all-cash
deal. On Dec. 17, Oyo named Sonal Sinha
as CEO, with Tina Burnett continuing as
chief development ofÏcer, the company
said in a statement. G6’s chief financial
ofÏcer, chief brand ofÏcer, general counsel,
chief information ofÏcer and chief human
resources ofÏcer also are being replaced.
“We will continue to invest in skills
that are unique and critical to the
G6 business, such as supply, account
management, corporate sales, brand
standards, ofÒine marketing and safety
and security," said Gautam Swaroop, OYO
International's CEO. "Over the years, OYO
has successfully leveraged capabilities
developed in India in technology, revenue
management, e-commerce, procurement,
legal, finance and HR and will extend
these to the G6 business as well.”
The company plans to add 150 hotels to
the Motel 6 and Studio 6 brands next year
and accelerate G6 Hospitality's growth
through technology integration, property
upgrades, and market expansion.
Encouraging brand
growth
OYO said it will maintain and strengthen
the Motel 6 and Studio 6 brands, which
have strong recognition and a loyal
customer base built over decades. The
company will honor all existing franchise
agreements, including exclusivity rights,
and ensure current franchise teams
continue operations without disruption.
Oyo, known for its fast-growing
international hotel portfolio, plans
upgrades to enhance guest experience
and operational efÏciency. The company
will deploy its 300-strong team of
product specialists, including software
engineers, product managers, and
designers, to develop and implement
digital solutions, including a mobile and
web booking experience and dynamic
pricing capabilities to optimize rates
across room types year-round.
Meanwhile, the company plans to
reduce reliance on OTAs, expand its
network of distribution partners and
strengthen direct booking channels and
corporate demand.
Corporate restructuring
As part of the acquisition, Oyo
restructured the G6 executive team, the
statement said. Those leaving G6, include
Adam Cannon, chief brand ofÏcer; Farah
Bhayani, general counsel and chief
compliance ofÏcer; Perry Ping, CFO; Mary
Fregia, chief human resources ofÏcer and
Brent Haines, CIO.
New appointments include Nishant
Boorla and Anuj Ladha to lead brand
performance, Manas Mehrotra as head
of central operations and Subhankar
Choudhary as head of revenue,
e-commerce, and sales.
Oyo also announced leaders in its
global capacity center supporting G6:
Rakesh Prusti as group general counsel,
Dinesh R as group CHRO, Rakesh Kumar
as group CFO, Shashank Jain as group
CTO, Nitin Thakur as head of global
strategic alliances and communications
and Aparna Rathore as global
procurement head.
The company plans to hire primarily
for franchisee-facing roles while
consolidating and streamlining functions
to enhance organizational synergies, the
statement said. Franchise development,
support, and safety and security teams
remain fully intact. As part of the
integration, OYO and G6 will merge select
corporate operations with OYO’s global
excellence teams.
SoftBank is Oyo’s largest shareholder
with 46.62 percent, while founder Ritesh
Agarwal owns 33.15 percent. Founded in
India in 2012 by Agarwal, the company
quickly expanded domestically before
entering Europe, the U.S., and other
parts of the Americas in 2019. The G6
acquisition further supports Oyo's growth
in the Americas over the past decade.
Oyo finalizes G6 deal, replaces
CEO, eyes expansion
Sinha is the new CEO, while Burnett remains chief development ofÏcer
Oravel Stays completed its $525 million acquisition of G6 Hospitality, restructured G6’s leadership and
plans to add 150 hotels to the Motel 6 and Studio 6 brands next year. It also plans to promote growth
through tech integration, property upgrades and market expansion.