The Mind Behind India’s Largest Backpacker Hostel Chain – Pranav Dangi Interviewed by Prakriti Parul
Pranav Dangi is the Founder and CEO of The Hosteller, India’s one of the leading brand-operated chain of backpacker hostels. A visionary in the new-age hospitality space, Pranav has redefined the backpacking experience in India through innovative, tech-driven solutions tailored for the modern traveller. With a career spanning over 9 years, Pranav has successfully led the launch of 55+ self-operated hostels across the country, positioning The Hosteller as India’s smartest and most dynamic hospitality brand for young explorers.
Over the years, we’ve seen the idea of hostelling evolve from a basic budget stay to a culture-driven, experience-first model. How has The Hosteller adapted to this shift, and what trends are you seeing in the way young India is travelling today?
At The Hosteller, we’ve always believed that hosteling is more than just offering a place to sleep—it’s about building a community. So for us, the shift toward a culture and experience-first model wasn’t a pivot, but rather a reaffirmation of our founding philosophy. We’ve continuously worked on creating immersive, on-ground experiences that encourage interaction, connection, and storytelling—something we reinforce every single day, not just digitally, but in every corner of our hostels.
When it comes to travel trends, young India is travelling to seek unique experiences, local culture, and meaningful connections over traditional sightseeing. There’s a noticeable rise in solo travel, weekend getaways, and offbeat destinations becoming mainstream. Authenticity, affordability, and flexibility are driving decisions now more than ever.
Planning spontaneous trips is becoming second nature for Gen-Z travellers. In this context, how is technology playing a role in enhancing their travel journeys, especially when it comes to booking, flexibility, or on-the-go decisions?
Absolutely. Gen Z is spontaneous, hyper-connected, and expects brands to meet them where they are—digitally and instantly. This generation thrives on flexibility and speed, and that’s where tech becomes a game-changer. For us, ensuring a seamless digital journey is non-negotiable.
To cater to this, we’ve integrated services like bus bookings directly on our website for those last-minute, unplanned getaways. We also launched Glu, our in-house digital concierge web app, which enables guests to do everything from web check-ins to booking airport transfers and local transport—right from their phone. It’s about making every aspect of travel smoother and more intuitive.
Seasonal campaigns often give a peek into a brand’s personality. Your recent summer campaign uses humor to talk about heat and travel—what was the thought process behind it, and how do such campaigns resonate with your audience?
Our audience value authenticity, fun, and a sense of belonging. Our recent summer campaign, It’s Getting Too Hot, was crafted with exactly that spirit. It’s a playful take on the sweltering heat, but with a twist: while the temperature’s rising, so is the energy at our hostels.
From pool parties to music sessions and other curated experiences, we wanted to highlight that summer at The Hosteller isn’t about escaping the heat—it’s about embracing it in style. These light-hearted, culturally tuned-in campaigns help us connect emotionally with our community and keep the brand experience memorable and relatable.
With a growing footprint across India, what’s next for The Hosteller in terms of expansion and innovation? Are you looking at new kinds of spaces, destinations, or perhaps community-focused experiences that go beyond just accommodation?
Absolutely. Our goal is to reach 100 hostels this year, strategically expanding into both top-tier tourist hubs and lesser-known, offbeat gems that our community loves to explore. We’re not just opening properties—we’re creating hubs of connection, creativity, and discovery.
In terms of innovation, we’re also focusing on enhancing group travel experiences and designing spaces that support a wider range of activities—be it co-working, wellness retreats, or outdoor adventures. Our future lies in blurring the lines between stay and experience, transforming hostels into micro-communities where travellers can do more than just sleep.
If you had to name one challenge and one underrated joy of building a hostel network from the ground up in India, what would they be?
The biggest challenge has been starting from scratch—with no prior industry experience and being completely bootstrapped in the beginning. Every step involved a steep learning curve, from understanding hospitality to figuring out real estate dynamics across diverse regions in India.
But the underrated joy? That would be the freedom to travel and meet people from all walks of life. It’s incredibly fulfilling to build something that connects people—whether it’s a backpacker from Spain, a solo traveller from Assam, or a group of college friends rediscovering themselves on a trek. The friendships, stories, and memories made along the way are truly priceless.