Rs 3,00,000 reward for the selected name that could define Oyo’s next chapter

In a bold and unconventional move, Ritesh Agarwal, founder and CEO of hospitality giant Oyo, has called on the public to help rename its parent company, Oravel Stays. The individual whose suggestion is selected and adopted will receive a cash prize of Rs 3,00,000.

The rebranding signals a broader transformation for the company, which Agarwal says is preparing for something “bigger.” In a recent social media post, he wrote, “OYO started over a decade ago with a simple idea: to upgrade quality living spaces and drive standardisation. From a single room in India, we’ve grown into a global network of travel, work, and hospitality solutions across 35+ countries.”

With more than 100 million users interacting with its 15+ brands—ranging from holiday homes in Europe to studio apartments in the U.S., and wedding venues to hospitality technology-Agarwal emphasized that the company’s evolution has outgrown the limitations of its current corporate identity.

A Name From the People

The new name, he noted, could also serve as the brand identity for a premium hotel app Oyo is currently developing. “We want the name to come from the community that helped build it,” Agarwal said, extending the invitation to brand experts, entrepreneurs, creatives, and anyone with a curious mind.

This initiative is not just about changing a name-it’s about redefining the company’s place in the global marketplace.

What the New Name Should Represent

In his callout, Agarwal laid down a few key criteria for the new name:

• It should be a one-word corporate name
• Global in tone, untethered to any single culture or language
• Tech-forward and sharp, while remaining human and memorable
• Ideally, a .com domain should be available
• Can be a real word or a completely original creation
• Must be a name that can grow beyond hospitality

A Rare Branding Opportunity

“How often does a global company ask the world to name it?” Agarwal asked rhetorically in his post. He described this moment as a rare opportunity to influence the future identity of a company that’s redefining how people experience spaces on a global scale.

The final name, if chosen from public submissions, will not only represent the company’s aspirations beyond hospitality, but also underscore its commitment to being built by and for the community that supports it.