IPO-bound hospitality giant OYO has taken a major step in redefining its corporate identity. Its parent company, Oravel Stays Limited, will now operate under a new name — Prism. The rebranding comes after a large-scale global naming competition that saw over 6,000 entries and a cash prize of ₹3 lakh for the winning suggestion.
The announcement was made by OYO’s founder and chairman of the board, Ritesh Agarwal, in a letter to shareholders. The move is being positioned as a strategic step to unify the group’s diverse portfolio under one umbrella, giving it a sharper and future-ready identity in the global travel and hospitality market.
Why OYO Chose ‘Prism’
Explaining the decision, Agarwal said:
“Prism will serve as the umbrella for all our diverse businesses, helping us work more efficiently and clearly communicate who we are. It will tie together our different brands without losing what makes each one unique.”
According to him, the new corporate name reflects the company’s ambition to move beyond its well-known budget hotel brand, OYO, into new areas of hospitality and travel. While OYO will continue as the consumer-facing brand for affordable and mid-market travel, Prism will act as the parent entity overseeing the company’s larger ecosystem.
The rebranding is not just about the name but also about creating a modern corporate architecture that matches OYO’s global expansion goals. With its increasing presence in vacation rentals, extended-stay offerings, luxury properties, co-working spaces, and wedding venues, the company wanted a single brand identity to align with its diversified operations.
What Prism Represents
OYO explained that “Prism” was selected because it symbolises diversity, transparency, and vision. Much like how a prism disperses light into multiple colors, the company wants the new identity to highlight its ability to serve a wide spectrum of travel needs.
Prism will oversee multiple business verticals, including:
- Hotels & Budget Hospitality: OYO Rooms, OYO Townhouse, Motel 6, Sunday, Palette.
- Vacation Homes: Belvilla, DanCenter, CheckMyGuest, Studio Prestige.
- Extended Stays: Studio 6, acquired through G6 Hospitality in the US.
- Workspaces & Event Spaces: Innov8 (co-working) and Weddingz.in (celebration venues).
- Hospitality Tech Solutions: AI-driven tools, data platforms, and partner-focused technology solutions.
By integrating these businesses under one parent brand, the company hopes to strengthen its market positioning, especially as it prepares for its much-anticipated IPO.
OYO’s Journey So Far
Founded in 2012 by Ritesh Agarwal, OYO has grown from a small budget hotel aggregator in India to a global travel-tech platform. The company currently serves over 100 million customers across more than 35 countries, making it one of the largest players in the sector.
Its rapid expansion has been driven by a combination of affordable pricing, tech-driven partner solutions, and brand recall. In recent years, OYO has also built a strong offline presence through vacation rentals, premium properties, and co-living spaces.
The Prism rebranding marks the next chapter in OYO’s evolution, signalling its shift from being a single-product hospitality brand to becoming a multi-brand, global travel ecosystem.
IPO-Bound Strategy
The timing of this announcement is critical. OYO’s parent, Prism (earlier Oravel Stays), is gearing up for a stock market debut. The company has already filed papers with the market regulator SEBI, and the IPO is expected to help fund expansion, strengthen its technology backbone, and repay debt.
For potential investors, the rebranding creates a clearer picture of OYO’s diversified business model. Instead of being seen only as a budget hotel chain, the Prism identity positions the group as a comprehensive hospitality and travel-tech company with multiple growth avenues.
Ritesh Agarwal’s Vision
Agarwal, who has become one of India’s most well-known startup founders, emphasised that Prism is about future readiness.
“Our OYO brand will continue to serve as the highly recognisable, consumer-facing identity for budget and midscale travel, a space it has defined globally. Prism, in turn, will unite our diversified ecosystem that spans premium hospitality, extended-stay residences, celebration venues, luxury getaways, and experiential living concepts,” he said.
This vision highlights the company’s ambition to compete not just with Indian rivals like FabHotels or Treebo but also with global hospitality giants such as Airbnb, Marriott, and Booking.com.
Why This Rebranding Matters
Industry experts believe the move is significant for several reasons:
- Clarity for Stakeholders: Investors, partners, and regulators will now view OYO as one part of a larger, structured ecosystem.
- Brand Differentiation: While OYO remains the face for budget travel, Prism will help the company expand into premium and niche segments.
- Global Alignment: A single parent identity helps the company align its international operations under one umbrella, similar to how Alphabet oversees Google.
- IPO Readiness: A fresh corporate identity before an IPO signals a cleaner, more professional image to potential shareholders.
Looking Ahead
With Prism, OYO aims to build a future-ready corporate structure that can accommodate its rapid growth and diverse offerings. The company is betting big on premium stays, co-living, vacation rentals, and event spaces, in addition to its budget hotel roots.
The global hospitality sector is undergoing rapid change, with travelers seeking more flexibility, personalization, and affordability. OYO, now Prism, is positioning itself as a brand that can meet all these needs under one umbrella.
The rebranding of Oravel Stays to Prism marks a turning point for OYO. It reflects both its past achievements and future ambitions, uniting its many ventures under one strong parent identity. With an IPO around the corner, the timing is strategic, sending a clear message to investors and customers alike: OYO is no longer just a budget hotel brand but a global hospitality ecosystem with diverse offerings.
Disclaimer: This article is based on publicly available information and official company statements. It is intended for informational purposes only and should not be considered as financial or investment advice.
