Nagpur, often celebrated for its central geographical location, has now carved out a new identity as a pivotal nerve center for global hospitality technology. A US-based company, HotelKey, has established its worldwide operational headquarters in the city, managing tech support for branded hotel chains across dozens of countries.
From Nagpur to the World: A Decade of Growth
Founded a decade ago in 2014, HotelKey has grown to become the largest provider of technology support services to international hotel brands. While its corporate roots are in the United States, the engine of its global operations runs entirely from Nagpur. The company recently celebrated a significant milestone, announcing partnerships with over 15,000 hotels worldwide.
The Nagpur center is a bustling hub of activity, employing a workforce of 1,000 professionals. This team has seen rapid expansion, more than doubling in size since just last year. Every day, these staff members field up to 3,000 support calls, resolving critical issues for hotels from the United States and the Caribbean to Papua New Guinea.
Solving Global Problems from a Central Indian City
According to founder Aditya Thyagrajan, an NRI with strong ties to Nagpur, the team handles the entire spectrum of hotel technology challenges. "Any issues related to bookings, check-in, or check-out faced at the hotels' end are resolved by the team in Nagpur," Thyagrajan explained during a visit to the city. The nature of the work demands constant vigilance, requiring staff to be perpetually on their toes to ensure seamless operations for clients across 60 countries.
Thyagrajan's vision for the future is firmly rooted in Nagpur. He confirmed that all further expansions will be centered in the city and expressed hope to maintain the aggressive growth pace in employee numbers over the coming year. This commitment underscores Nagpur's rising profile as a viable and competitive destination for high-tech global business process outsourcing.
Bullish Outlook for Indian Hospitality
The milestone event also saw the presence of Ritesh Agrawal, founder of Prism (formerly known as Oyo). Agrawal shared an optimistic forecast for the Indian hotel industry, predicting a bullish trend for at least the next decade. He pointed to major domestic events like the construction of the Ayodhya temple and the upcoming Kumbh Mela in Nashik as catalysts creating new tourism circuits and driving infrastructure development.
The success story of HotelKey in Nagpur demonstrates how Indian cities beyond the traditional metros are successfully attracting and scaling global businesses. By leveraging local talent and strategic location, Nagpur is proving itself as a formidable player in the international technology support landscape.
