Urbanpod, the answer to futuristic smart hotel concept

New-age travellers visiting themetropolis can now enjoy their stay in a unique smart Podhotel at affordable rates with Urbanpod, which has opened itsfirst facility here in suburban Andheri with 140 units.The initial investment was done by three promoters,and for expansion, the company is open for investments fromventure funds, a top official said."With an investment of Rs 5-15 crore per hoteldepending on the locality, we are looking at an average ofRs 10-20 crore investment over the next three years," UrbanpodCo-founder and Director Hiren Gandhi told PTI here.With an average price of Rs 2,000 per night, theindividual pods are built in between 50 square feet and 90 sqft space with self-contained and technologically-superiorinteriors, besides a separate individual-locker facility forluggage, he added.These smart hotels for Gen Next, provide lodging madeup of small pod rooms that fit only necessary amenities. EachPod comes with a bed, personal locker with secure key cardaccess, TV with headphone, personal reading light, powersocket, hangers, a dresser, free Wi-Fi, adjustableair-conditioning facility, air-purifier and sliding door withlocking-facility for added privacy.With no individual bathrooms, on an average there is ashared facility for every 8 pods, Gandhi said."Our main target segment will be people from 18-50years, who are students, entry level executives, pilgrimsamong others who are looking for affordable, hygienic and safeaccommodation," he said.Gandhi said, with the Indian tourism and hospitalityindustry emerging as one of the key drivers of growthamong the services sector in India, there has been anincreasing sub-segment within the leisure category includingsingle-travellers, transit travellers, backpackers and grouptravellers of all kinds, who are looking to explore andexperiment to optimise their spends wisely."For expansion, we are looking at large cities and atcities with large footfalls," he added.