Exclusive Interview | Vinay Chandavarkar, Chief Developement Officer,SaffronStays

“We will always look to onboard people who have the passion and hustle and want to play a role in growing this exciting brand”

— Vinay Chandavarkar

Editor: Congratulations on SaffronStays reaching a milestone: 200 private vacation homes across India. How did you celebrate this win?

We would like to celebrate this achievement by hitting the 300 homes milestone at the earliest :). At present, we have 260+ homes and we are hoping to reach the 300 mark very soon. We want to continue growing at a rapid pace through quality additions and our target is to onboard at least 15-20 homes on a monthly basis.

Editor: What does this scale mean for the business? What is the next target, 1000, 2000?

The branded villa and homestay segment is still fairly nascent in India and the sky is the limit when it comes to our growth. Our nation’s distinct cultures and geographies allow us to target several markets so as to grow in a sustained and unique manner. We do intend to grow our portfolio beyond 1000 homes, but it is important that we add these numbers while preserving the quality of our portfolio in a manner that adds value to all our existing and future stakeholders.

Editor: Frugal seems to have been your mantra so far. Is that about to change?

Yes, we have been careful with the monies entrusted to us as a Group, and that is how it should be. That hasn't, however, stopped us from making quality investments in resources, be it people, the product or technology. Going forward, we shall continue to raise our standards across the board and shall make suitable strategic and quality investments as required.   

Editor: What is next? Are there more 'spices' to be discovered? Are any new verticals in the pipeline?

 Variety is the spice of life! We recognize that all guests are not the same and similarly all homes are not the same. So, we segmented our audience as per their traits and personalities, thus giving each guest a persona they are most likely to fall under. Understanding our guests, their needs, their moods, requirements, reasons to get away, watering holes, lifestyle choices, etc., we've managed to customize our product and service for each such persona. With this insight, we’ve followed a 'House of Brands' approach. Each home on our network is now either a SaffronStays home, Signature Home, or an X-Series home. Each home has a story, a vibe, and a personality. Once we understand this, we can market it to the right audience. One size does not fit all. For Eg: Our newly launched Signature Series homes are for well-heeled guests looking for unparalleled experiences, aesthetically designed private villas & estates, and curated signature experiences like Al-fresco brunches, and dinner by a river, kayaking & boating, authentic farm-to-table experiences, and so on. 

Editor: What are some of the services you provide that owners love at the moment? What more can they expect in the future?

Our strengths lie in the ecosystem that we have created that ensures a consistent and hassle-free experience for both our guests and homeowners. We have evolved from being a premium, recognized distribution setup to an Operator that also manages the home, allowing the homeowner to relax, knowing the home shall be maintained in a ‘mint fresh condition’.   Our new brand architecture allows us to utilize the right tactics to promote each home while, at the same time, being commercially efficient from a CAPEX and earnings front. The distinct brands ensure that all homes within a certain portfolio are consistent and of a similar level, something that is always appreciated by homeowners. Furthermore, our new contracts provide a high level of transparency and information upfront which is extremely important to our homeowners and us. Our constant efforts to evolve on the technological and service front (incl. making F&B a real business driver) are also efforts that receive a lot of positive feedback from existing and potential homeowners.

 Editor: Are you hiring hotel management graduates/ freshers? If yes, what can they do to work with you, and what kind of roles they can look forward to?

 Our team is quite diverse in the sense that it includes hospitality graduates, general marketing and sales specialists, and even a good mix of engineers, amongst representatives from other domains. A diverse culture across domains is a big plus for us as all our team members bring a unique perspective to the table, allowing us to build a strong knowledge base within the Group. The one common thread is that these are hungry and motivated individuals who have bought into the vision of the Founders and the Group as a whole. Our people are what makes us and our existing levels of motivation and excitement stem from their passion for wanting SaffronStays to succeed at the highest level.

 In terms of future roles and ways of being a part of the team, I genuinely believe that we are in a very privileged position as an organization. Despite the pandemic, we have grown significantly and continue to do so. That gives us an opportunity to help provide employment and build careers across India. The pandemic was challenging for many people, and we can hope, as a Group, to turn those challenges into opportunities for others.

We look at ‘shop floor level hiring’ for homes right through to young, intelligent graduates as well as experienced minds across different fields. These could include individuals who are not content with their current profiles, people looking to change industries, those affected by the pandemic, and parents looking to reboot their professional endeavors. We are always looking for outliers, those who do not necessarily follow the norm, and those who have the hunger to prove to themselves and others that they can make a genuine difference in one of the largest industries in the country.

Bottom line!! We will always look to onboard people who have the passion and hustle and want to play a role in growing this exciting brand.

Editor: Your favorite interview question and why.

I don’t have one favorite question per se. I do however like to understand the mindset of the individual in question, understanding their journey to date. Given the competitive environment that we exist in and the extent to which we want to scale, it's important that people want to join SaffronStays for the right reasons. Every candidate need not have understood the industry fully or have bought into the Group vision as yet, but I am looking for motivated people who want to genuinely make a difference, and, can add value to the team. Hence, the 'why SaffronStays?'  is something that I like to ask. It makes me understand whether that person will eventually align with the company's vision and that it's not ‘just another gig’ from the offset.