Exclusive Interviews | Deepak Agarwal, Director at Moustache Escapes

Deepak Agarwal 

An aspiring hotelier should be experimental while conceptualizing properties in order to create something unique from the existing ones

Tell us about your journey. How did it all start? & Journey of the company over the years.

As a chartered accountant, I lived in Jakarta for 14 years and then moved to Jaipur where I decided to chase my dream of creating exceptional travel experiences for all by establishing a hostel property. On receiving favourable responses from guests, gradually Moustache Escapes spread its reach to other places in Rajasthan and today we have a chain of hostels nationwide. Post the covid era, we have also created a diverse portfolio providing several distinct experiential activities for our customers.

How do Moustache Escapes create experiences for all kinds of travellers (Luxury as well as affordable packages)?

With evolving times, at Moustache Escapes, we have recognized the growing interest of guests to experience luxury in their accommodation within an affordable package. Hence, we are always curating new properties that fit these requirements.

What sets Moustache Escapes apart from other travel companies?

Moustache Escapes’ unique standing point is ‘experience’. That being our main product, comfortable accommodations can be considered as our by-product. Besides this, online positive reviews also help to keep our operations intact and help in the retention of our guests.

What are some of the trends you see impacting the hospitality industry?

One of the major observations has been the frequency of travel which has increased considerably, especially post-pandemic. Due to travel restrictions for over two years, individuals are now keen on taking a pause from their daily schedules and planning a minimum of three trips in a year. Additionally, individuals are now more reliant and considerate about past reviews while opting for accommodation.

What tech would you like to see in operations? What operational problems need tech solutions?

Being present in 20+ locations in the country, and managing multiple properties, several regulatory formalities need to be filled out by guests at each property. This process consumes time and eliminates the sense of belonging that we wish to achieve with our loyal guests. Hence, we are hoping to solve this operational issue with the help of tech solutions.

What are the attributes you look for while selecting or hiring?  If someone wants to work with you, what should they do?

While hiring at Moustache Escapes, we usually look out for enthusiastic, and extroverted candidates. Their capacity to work together as a team and pro-activeness in doing thorough background research on the travel industry is also assessed in the process. Academically speaking, we require them to hold a graduation degree in Hotel Management for roles that involve dealing with the accommodation of guests. 

What advice would you give to a young, aspiring hotelier?

An aspiring hotelier should be experimental while conceptualising properties in order to create something unique from the existing ones. Additionally, they must seek to provide exclusive experiences through the curation of fascinating activities for guests.

What is the one tech/app/software feature you would like to see?  This could be for guests, operations, etc.

An application for our guests to connect with one another, prior to and during their stay is something I would like to materialize in the coming times, as that would help us to further boost our main goal of creating a sense of community among our guests through active interaction.

Two things you would like to change in the industry.

I believe there is a lot of bureaucracy present in the tourism industry. The rules and regulations set by the government for the industry need to be re-evaluated as they are hindering several opportunities for its growth. Secondly, hoteliers should cooperate with one another and work on organizing collective events as the outcome would be strong and positive.

What is your favourite question for a candidate interview and why?

My go-to question would be ‘What are the attributes of a review?’ as it helps to understand the candidate’s idea of a review and if they would be keen on working to create a strong review system for Moustache Escapes. From my standpoint, for the company to progress, reviews are a crucial component, both for guests as well as service providers.

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