Delighted to announce that we have served a record number of 253 corporates in 2022, indicating a steady rebound in business travel after pandemic induced travel restrictions ebbed in Indonesia and health concerns subsided after mass vaccination. We had served only 75 corporates in 2021 recording a 237% Y-O-Y growth in 2022.
Business travel recovery is primarily led by companies in sectors such as financial services, technology, startups, retail and logistics. As per our booking data, financial services companies have emerged as the key customer category for us, contributing the most in business travel segment. Many companies from these sectors have realised the importance of physical interactions to grow their businesses and therefore gone back to in-person meetings. Some of the corporates that we served include AXA Mandiri Financial Services, Velvet Junior and PT.ASKN.
Our booking data reveals that top five business cities in Indonesia include Jakarta, Tangerang, Surabaya, Bekasi and Medan. Top cities searched by corporates for bookings include Jakarta, Surabaya, Palembang and Yogyakarta. With Meetings, Incentives, Conferences and Exhibitions making a comeback, demand for facilities such as personalised meals, swimming pool and adequate room capacity and parking space also increased.
Our large and deep network of mid-premium segment brands such as Townhouse Oak, Townhouse, Collection O, Capital O and Flagship in these cities have also provided corporates with quality stay choices. Customers with corporate tie ups get curated stays options, strong personalised customer support and integration with their accounting system.
Corporate bookings also get the advantage of a credit facility which allows them a 30-day window period for making the payment after the booking is made. There are other benefits as well including a free night stay on the booking of 20 room nights, fixed room rates for longer stays and a dedicated account manager to facilitate the booking process until check-out process to ensure a delightful customer experience.
Speaking on the development, Ankit Tandon, Global CBO and CEO, Southeast Asia and Middle East said “Indonesia is one of the most mature markets for us in terms of scale and unit economics. Business travel is back here and we are prepared to serve our customers by maximizing portfolio growth, technology innovation, increasing awareness on domestic travel options while ensuring that our accommodation options are easily accessible. We also have a dedicated team to help our corporate clients identify and book the accommodation that best suits their preferences in terms of location and budget”.
Corporate customers can access our ‘OYO B’ portal for a convenient booking experience through https://business.oyorooms.com/business/. In addition to this, they also get the advantage of the trust and safety of our platform, and a round-the-clock customer support through Yo! Chat and end-to-end proprietary customer support platform.
Expressing his satisfaction over the quality of services, Muhammad Fikri Ilmi, Alternate Development & Support, BDS-Sales Academy, AXA Mandiri Financial Services said “With OYO, we get the assurance of affordable prices, clean accommodation, shower with hot water and Wi-Fi facilities which are critical for business travelers. We also get the services of a helpful and friendly staff which ensures a comfortable stay experience”.
While traditional business travel is a strong growth opportunity, alternative business travel adds an additional layer of growth in 2023. Bleisure travel, extending work trips for leisure, and flexcations, combining remote work with leisure travel and upcoming trends as many businesses continue with flexible or remote work options.