Zostel, the world’s largest chain of backpacker hostels, has entered the premium hospitality segment with the launch of Zo Selections, a new social premium hospitality vertical under its parent company, Zo World.
The first property, Zo Selections Jaipur by Zostel, has opened in Jaipur, featuring private rooms, jacuzzi suites, expansive common areas and workspaces.
The launch builds on Zostel’s journey since it opened its first 24-bed hostel in Jodhpur in 2013. The brand has since grown to a network of around 5,000 beds across India, Nepal and Thailand, recording more than 5 million journeys and building a large community of young travellers.
Zo Selections has been created to cater to travellers who have grown beyond the traditional hostel experience but continue to value the social and community-driven aspects associated with Zostel. The new vertical is aimed at couples, families, entrepreneurs and corporate offsite groups.
Commenting on the launch, Aviral Gupta, CEO, Zostel, said, “Premium hospitality is easy to buy and hard to earn. We did not want to build another five star hotel with a logo on the door, we wanted to build the next chapter of a community we have spent thirteen years growing. The traveller who found us in Jodhpur is now planning family holidays and company offsites, and they still want what they wanted then: people, not just a room. Zo Selections is us answering that. It is not louder and it is not bigger, it was built for the same reason our first hostel was, to bring the right people into the same space. Jaipur is where we start. It will not be where we stop.”
Unlike conventional premium hospitality formats that often focus on privacy, Zo Selections is designed around social interaction and curated experiences. Bonfires, workshops and sundowners form part of the guest experience, while the properties are designed to encourage guests to spend time together.
At the Jaipur property, the design draws inspiration from the Pink City, with pastel interiors, large common spaces and dedicated workstations. The property also houses Amaano, an in-house restaurant serving Rajasthani flavours.
Zo Selections properties will follow three key principles — quality service, destination-led design and personalised experiences. The brand aims to combine premium hospitality with the community-focused approach that has been central to Zostel.
Following Jaipur, Zo Selections is set to expand to Gokarna, with further properties planned across destinations including Mussoorie, Pench and Lonavala.
Zo Selections joins Zostel’s wider portfolio, which includes Zostel Plus, offering premium hostel experiences, Zostel Homes, focused on nature-led stays, and Zo House, a permanent hacker house network.
The launch comes as Zo World continues to expand its hospitality footprint. Over the past year, Zostel opened its 100th property and its first overseas location in Phuket, while its European presence has grown through Safestay across more than 20 destinations.
With the group working towards a target of 10,000 beds, Zo Selections marks Zostel’s formal entry into the premium hospitality segment as it looks to expand its community-led approach to a wider set of travelers.
