**New Identity for Oravel Stays: A Call for Creative Names**
Oravel Stays, the parent company of OYO led by Ritesh Agarwal, is seeking fresh name suggestions to establish a new identity for the brand. The initiative, announced on Instagram, invites participants to submit their ideas before the deadline, with a prize of ₹3 lakh for the winning entry. This move comes as the company prepares for its Initial Public Offering (IPO).
Ritesh Agarwal emphasized that the ideal name should be bold, one-word, and possess global appeal, transcending any single culture or language. The name should convey a tech-forward, sharp, yet human essence, and be memorable. It must also be versatile enough to evolve beyond the hospitality sector, with the added requirement that the .com domain is available. Additionally, the winner will have the opportunity to meet Ritesh personally.
“We’re renaming the corporate brand behind it all. Not the hotel chain, not a consumer product — but the parent company powering a global ecosystem of urban innovation and modern living. We believe it’s time the world had a new kind of global brand — born in India, but built for the world. We’re inviting brand thinkers, creatives, entrepreneurs, and curious minds to help us craft this new identity — one that reflects our evolution and opens doors to where we go next,” Ritesh stated.
In parallel, OYO is exploring the launch of a separate app for its premium hotels and mid-market to premium company-serviced hotels, a segment that has experienced significant growth in India and globally. Sources indicate that the name chosen through this initiative may also be used for the upcoming premium hotels app.
OYO has engaged five investment banks to present crucial information to its major shareholder, SoftBank, in June at their London office. This presentation could play a pivotal role in assessing the company’s path toward a public listing, as it aims to launch its IPO in the last quarter of the current fiscal year.
In recent updates, Ritesh Agarwal informed employees that OYO has achieved the status of the most profitable Indian startup, reporting a profit after tax (PAT) of ₹623 crore for the financial year 2024–25. This figure represents a remarkable 172% increase from ₹229 crore in the previous fiscal year. OYO also reported an adjusted EBITDA of ₹1,132 crore in FY25, marking a 27% year-on-year increase and its tenth consecutive quarter of EBITDA profitability.
**FAQ**
**What is the purpose of the name change for Oravel Stays?**
The name change aims to create a new identity for the parent company, reflecting its evolution and positioning it as a global brand while preparing for an IPO.
