OYO Rooms — often promoted as the world’s fastest-growing hotel chain — has been a regular presence in the headlines for years. The company frequently makes news for acquisitions, investments and other business moves. Recently, however, OYO has increasingly appeared in the media for less favorable reasons.
Personally, I haven’t stayed at an OYO property yet. That’s not out of dislike; it’s simply been a matter of opportunity. From friends who have used OYO, I’ve heard positive reports about some locations, though online reviews include a fair share of negative experiences as well.
If you do choose to book with OYO, there’s a current offer through HDFC Bank’s SmartBuy platform: HDFC credit cardholders can earn 10X reward points on OYO bookings. That effectively reduces the net cost if you value those points — roughly comparable to a substantial discount depending on how you redeem rewards. While premium cardholders might not typically opt for budget accommodations, the 10X points could be appealing to travelers who find well-reviewed OYO properties at good rates.
Bottomline
HDFC Bank continues to expand the SmartBuy partner network to capture more cardholder spend within its ecosystem. In recent months the platform has added categories such as gift vouchers and train or bus bookings, and now OYO joins that list. Given this trend, it’s likely HDFC will keep adding new partners to make SmartBuy more attractive to customers.
Do you plan to book OYO rooms through HDFC SmartBuy soon? Share your thoughts or experiences in the comments below.