Long criticized for mismanagement, Oyo is flipping the script with its company-serviced hotels, focusing on quality and consistency. This shift is a big deal for the brand and could set the stage for its much-anticipated IPO.
The nearly three-year wait for an IPO launch just goes to show the immense challenges Oyo has faced in its plans to go public. Now, should the company manage to secure funds from investors beforehand, it will undoubtedly choose that path without any hesitation.
Klook turning profitable is good news. And the travel startup's failure to get additional follow-on funding from troubled backer Softbank is unsurprising. Klook has made great strides, but it must someday find an exit for its early investors.
In the battle between Tripadvisor/Viator and GetYourGuide, the winner is — offline experiences, which have more than 90 percent market share. That spells big opportunities for both of these companies.
Not a bad payday, considering the partial exit yields a substantial six-fold return for H World Group. However, the heightened scrutiny on startup valuations has kept a lid on gains for Oyo.
The run-up to an Oyo IPO is turning out to be a waiting-for-Godot moment. Let's just hope Godot shows up in this version, even if the delay is even a little longer.