IRCTC has presented a novel and special idea in Hospitality Services for the travellers. Its first ever Pod Hotel used as Retiring Rooms is set up at Mumbai Central station in association with Urban Pod Pvt Ltd, Mumbai. Directors of Urban Pod Private Limited are Satyen Ashwin Gandhi and Hiren Ashwin Gandhi. Hiren Gandhi, Co-founder, Urbanpod, informed that while staying in Singapore on some work assignments, Shalabh Mittal, one of the Co-founders of Urbanpod, got a chance to stay and experience an elegant Pod hotel. He absolutely loved the concept, business model, service and the quality that was offered. That’s how Urbanpod came to life.
The Pod hotel at Mumbai Central station was inaugurated in November 2021. The idea is special in its own specific manner due to different never seen before features. A Pod-inn was first introduced in Japan, which includes countless little bed-sized rooms known as capsules. Pod inns give reasonable, fundamental overnight convenience for visitors who don’t need or who can’t manage the cost of bigger, more costly rooms presented by the traditional lodgings.
The minimum charge for a single bed in a sleeping pod is charged barely Rs 499 for 12 hours. It provides facilities such as Wi-Fi, free business centre usage, 24-hour reception, free locker, ironing board, soap, and shampoo. The pod hotel at Mumbai Central Station comprises of 48 pods, containing 3 classifications, specifically 30 Classic Pods, 7 for Ladies in particular, 10 Private Pods and One for Differently Abled persons. While the Classic Pods and Ladies just Pods will easily fit one visitor, the Private Pod will likewise include a private space inside the pod room, though the room for differently abled will coolly fit 2 visitors with space with the expectation of complimentary development of Wheelchair. The traveller can profit all advanced offices at relatively less expensive rates.
The swanky new pod rooms at Mumbai Central have been done up in muted shades of beige, brown and white. The pods come with a single bed, a mirror and a personal safe, among other amenities. The photos of the capsule-like rooms have created a buzz on social media.
According to a recent report from WiseGuy Research Consultants, demand for capsule hotels is increasing each year. Japan is not the only country with a pod-room mentality. The global Capsule Hotels market size was valued at USD 213.84 million in 2022 and is expected to expand at a CAGR of 6.96% during the forecast period, reaching USD 320.11 million by 2028.
The pod trend has also shown its grip in the market with its popularity across consumer booking websites. In the last year, the tourism industry saw an increase in the number of capsule hotels listed on travel website, Booking.com. This growth is coming primarily from Asia, with the nations showing the largest number of capsule hotels. They include Japan, China, Taiwan, Singapore, and Russia. Cities with the most capsule hotels on Booking.com are Tokyo, Singapore, Taipei, Osaka, and Xi’an. Booking numbers at capsule hotels have also risen year over year. Most of these are primarily being made from travellers in Japan, Taiwan, South Korea, China, and Great Britain. Asia is known for its pricey hotel rates, making capsule hotels a welcome alternative for both domestic and international travellers. Frank Sorgiovanni, head of research in hotels and hospitality in Asia Pacific at JLL, (Jones Lang LaSalle Incorporated is a professional services company), explained that more travellers nowadays, including business travellers prefer frugality with their spending and are looking for affordable luxury lodging. They want a room that offers their essential needs, fast Wi-Fi, somewhere to charge their iPads and work from a small desk if necessary. They don’t need a stacked minibar and other ancillary offerings such as day spas or numerous food and beverage options.
The travel landscape is undergoing a significant transformation, as affordability and sustainability become priorities for modern travellers. Among the innovations taking the lead are capsule hotels, a concept that originated in Japan but has now started to gain global traction. For youngsters, who often juggle with desire to travel with tight budgets and busy schedules, capsule hotels are becoming a blessing.
In an era of information and ambition to enjoy life to the fullest, minimalism/frugality is opted by more and more travellers. Capsule hotels typically follow minimalist design principles, which helps travellers to focus on what truly matters: the experiences and the memories they make during a trip. Pod Hotels are becoming a hit concept.
