SaffronStays, a managed private villa brand with more than 480 homes across over 80 destinations in India, has launched its consumer mobile application on the App Store and Google Play as part of its strategy to strengthen guest engagement and drive repeat bookings.
The company said the app has been designed as an end-to-end guest platform covering discovery, booking, check-in, in-stay support, local recommendations and loyalty benefits.
SaffronStays expects to grow by 35-40% this year, with repeat guests continuing to play a significant role in business expansion. While returning customers currently contribute around a quarter of total revenue, they account for nearly one-third of the company’s projected growth, according to the firm.
The company said repeat revenue is expected to increase by nearly 50% this year, outpacing overall business growth and reinforcing its focus on customer retention and lifetime value.
Among the key features introduced through the app are a reel-style content feed called ‘Moments’, self check-in functionality, direct access to property caretakers, in-stay support services, offline access to booking information and a ‘Red Alert’ feature enabling guests to directly contact senior leadership during emergencies.
SaffronStays said the platform is intended to enhance the guest experience throughout the travel journey while simplifying operational processes at its properties.
According to the company, the application has recorded more than 38,600 unique downloads within weeks of its public soft launch and has entered the list of the top travel applications on the App Store. The app currently contributes approximately 7% of the company’s overall revenue.
Deven Parulekar, Co-founder of SaffronStays, said the company views the app as a long-term customer relationship platform rather than simply a booking channel. He noted that while online travel agencies help acquire new customers and the website facilitates bookings, the app is designed to deepen engagement and encourage repeat stays.
The company said nearly 65% of its bookings are currently generated through direct channels, reflecting a growing preference among guests to interact directly with the brand.
Looking ahead, SaffronStays plans to introduce additional features including collaborative wishlists, personalised property recommendations, digital loyalty rewards, an AI-powered itinerary planner and destination-specific travel guides.
Sarang Purandare, Chief Product and Technology Officer at SaffronStays, said the company’s long-term objective is to strengthen its position in the family travel segment by creating experiences that extend beyond accommodation and encourage meaningful shared moments during stays.
The launch marks SaffronStays’ latest investment in technology-led guest engagement as competition intensifies in India’s fast-growing alternative accommodation and villa rental market.
