Ritesh Agarwal

Founder and Group CEO, PRISM

[Ritesh Agarwal @riteshagar]

A World Cup is never really about the stadiums.

Yes, people come for the matches. But while they're here, something else happens. They wander into the cities. They try the food. They meet the people. They check into the hotels. They start to feel what a place is actually like.

That builds revenue. It also builds memory.

And memory is the thing that quietly pulls people back, long after the final whistle.

Qatar understood this, and it paid off. With the World Cup now under way across the US, I expect the same story to play out.

#worldcup #fifaworldcup2026 #fifa #america #USA

[Ritesh Agarwal @riteshagar]

This World Cup feels so difficult to predict, doesn't it?

There are so many teams that are more or less on the same level. I guess that's what makes it even more exciting. Let alone the World Cup itself brings a lot of thrill and excitement.

Which team are you supporting?

#worldcup2026 #fifa #fifaworldcup #football #FootballCommunity

[Ritesh Agarwal @riteshagar]

Namaste from Nice, France.

You can sense it in my tone how exciting it is to see Indian innovation on a global stage.

What has stood out to me at @BharatInnov2026 has been the range of Indian founders working across deep-tech, space-tech, defence, AI, and other areas that can shape the future.

Many of these companies may look small today, but the problems they are solving can have a significant global impact.

And the moment carries real weight, Prime Minister @narendramodi and President @EmmanuelMacron came together to launch this platform as part of the India-France Year of Innovation, with PM Narendra Modi in France around the G7. When two leaders stand on the same stage for young founders, it tells you something. Our countries have just elevated their ties to a special global strategic partnership, and markets tend to follow where leadership leads.

For Indian startups, platforms like this create access to global partners, investors, and markets. More importantly, they show that India is not only consuming innovation, but exporting it.

Make in India, but for the world.

[Ritesh Agarwal @riteshagar]

A historic milestone for Hon’ble Prime Minister Shri @narendramodi ji as he becomes India’s longest continuously serving elected Prime Minister.

For many founders of my generation, the last decade has meant something very important: stability, confidence, and the belief that a company built from India can serve the world.

The startup ecosystem has grown with a new sense of ambition. The question is no longer just, “Can we build for India?” It is, “Can we build global champions from India?”

That shift in mindset matters.

My heartfelt congratulations to Modi ji on this remarkable milestone. His hunger, energy, and belief in India’s potential continue to inspire millions of entrepreneurs to think bigger, build stronger, and contribute to the journey of a developed India.

@PMOIndia

[India in New York @IndiainNewYork]

Here’s what Mr. Ritesh Agarwal @riteshagar , Founder of PRISM and owner of hospitality brands including Motel 6, Studio 6, Sunday Hotels and OYO, had to say about the growing India–U.S. partnership:

From creating tens of thousands of jobs in the U.S. to investing over $1B, he highlighted how Indian innovation, engineering talent and entrepreneurship are helping deepen economic collaboration between the two nations.

He also encouraged American entrepreneurs and investors to explore India’s vibrant startup ecosystem.

@PMOIndia @MEAIndia @IndianEmbassyUS @IndianDiplomacy @DDNewslive @PTI_News @PIB_India @MIB_India @ANI @oyorooms @AmbVMKwatra @binaysrikant76

[Ritesh Agarwal @riteshagar]

I recently had the privilege of joining a fireside chat at the Consulate General of India in New York, on India's startup ecosystem, hospitality, and tourism opportunities.

To be hosted exclusively by an Indian diplomatic mission abroad is a rare honour, and not one I take for granted. My sincere thanks to the Consulate General of India, New York, to Consul General Amb. Binaya Srikanta Pradhan (@binaysrikant76 ), and to Deputy Consul General Mr Vishal Harsh for their warmth, and for bringing together over 100 prominent guests for what turned into an engaging evening.

Consul General Pradhan spoke about India's tremendous untapped potential as a global tourism destination, and its growing appeal across very different kinds of travellers. I shared some of my own journey, and how India's hospitality sector has evolved over the years. There is real opportunity ahead across medical, wellness, religious, cultural, and experiential tourism.

Our rich heritage, the pace of infrastructure being built, and a fast-growing middle class place India among the most promising tourism destinations in the world.
At PRISM, this is the bet we are making at scale. From @oyorooms in India to @motel6 and @Studio 6 in the United States, and @Belvilla , DanCenter, and @TraumFeWo across Europe, we are building one of the world's largest travel and hospitality platforms. What ties it together is a belief that good quality, affordable stays should be within everyone's reach, and that technology can quietly carry the weight of making that happen. We spoke through how AI, digital platforms, and data are reshaping the way we look after guests, often in ways they never see.

The conversation that followed in the Q&A was the best part: candid questions on entrepreneurship, the role of startups in driving innovation, and where India's tourism and hospitality story goes next.

On a personal note, Odisha continues to give our country exceptional leaders in public service, and Amb. Pradhan is among them. My warm wishes to him, and may Bhagwan Jagannath prabhu bless us all.

Thank you to Nitin Thakur for moderating, and to everyone who joined us and stayed through the evening. Conversations like these are a reminder of how much there is still to build.

@PMOIndia @MEAIndia @IndianEmbassyUS @IndianDiplomacy @PIB_India @MIB_India @oyorooms
@AmbVMKwatra @binaysrikant76

[India in New York @IndiainNewYork]

Consulate General of India in New York hosted an engaging fireside chat on ‘India’s Startup Ecosystem, Hospitality and Tourism Opportunities’ with Mr. Ritesh Agarwal @riteshagar, Founder of PRISM and moderated by Mr. Nitin Thakur @nitinthakur100 , Group President – Strategic Initiatives, PRISM.

Consul General @binaysrikant76 underscored India’s, tremendous untapped potential as a global tourism destination and highlighted the country’s growing appeal across diverse tourism segments.

Mr. Agarwal shared insights from his entrepreneurial journey and discussed the evolution of India’s hospitality sector. He highlighted opportunities across medical, wellness, religious, cultural, and experiential tourism, emphasizing that India’s rich heritage, infrastructure development, and expanding middle class position it as one of the world’s most promising tourism destinations. He also spoke about the transformative impact of AI, digital platforms, and data-driven solutions in enhancing customer experiences across the hospitality industry.

The session concluded with an interactive Q&A, providing participants an opportunity to exchange views on entrepreneurship, role of startups in driving innovation, and opportunities in India’s tourism and hospitality ecosystem.

@PMOIndia @MEAIndia @IndianEmbassyUS @IndianDiplomacy @tourismgoi @oyorooms @DDNewsLive @PTI_News

[OYO @oyorooms]

Aapke ghoomne ka keeda? Hum zinda rakhengay!
OYO-Serviced Hotels alag hai. Test us!

[Ritesh Agarwal @riteshagar]

Teerth ho, hill station ho ya beach, good stays shouldn’t depend on luck anymore. And if something still goes wrong, we are committed to resolving it within 30 minutes. If not, guests will receive a full refund.

Trained staff. Smooth check-ins. Better managed stays.

OYO-Serviced Hotels.

Alag hai. Test us.

@oyorooms

[Ritesh Agarwal @riteshagar]

When I started out, I had no one to tell me what not to do. I just had to figure it out the hard way. And I did, but it cost me time, money, and a lot of stress that I could have avoided.

That is why I make these videos.

I look at the people who follow me, and I see myself at that age. I just want to give them something useful. Something real. Not theory. Not motivation. Just honest advice from someone who has been through it. Longer version on my channel if you want the full picture.

If you are young and you are trying to build something, I want you to know that is exactly who I make these videos for. I have been through the early mistakes. I have taken the wrong turns. And I just do not want you to have to go through the same things if you do not have to.

[Ritesh Agarwal @riteshagar]

Consistent stays. Trained staff. Smooth check-ins.
That is what OYO-Serviced Hotels is built for.
And if something goes wrong, we aim to resolve it within 30 minutes. If not, you get a full refund.
Alag hai. Test us.
#OYOServicedHotels #AlagHai #TestUs #OYO @oyorooms

[Ritesh Agarwal @riteshagar]

I have spoken to a lot of first-time property owners and almost all of them make the same mistake. They hand over the management too early. They think that is what smart owners do.

But what they are actually doing is giving away control before they even understand what they are giving away.

You cannot manage a manager if you do not know what good management looks like. Learn it first. Then delegate.

[Ritesh Agarwal @riteshagar]

Growth is silent. There’s no big moment.
No announcement.

Just a quiet shift in how you think and move.

[Ritesh Agarwal @riteshagar]

A great stay should never feel like a pleasant surprise. It should just feel expected.

That is what OYO-Serviced Hotels is built around. Trained staff on-site. Rooms that look exactly like what you booked. Effortless check-in. WiFi that works.

Properties that OYO manages, staffs, and stands behind. Every single one.

Alag hai. Test us.

#OYOServicedHotels #AlagHai #TestUs #OYO @oyorooms 


[OYO @oyorooms]

New challenge from the 4G girl:
Yeh OYO-Serviced Hotels hai. Alag hai. Khud test kro. 🔑
#OYOServicedHotels #TestUs

[OYO @oyorooms]

New challenge from the 4G girl:
Yeh OYO-Serviced Hotels hai. Alag hai. Khud test kro. 🔑
#OYOServicedHotels #TestUs

[Ritesh Agarwal @riteshagar]

I have been asked a version of the same question for the past two years. Is economy hospitality still a good bet?

My answer has not changed. But what has changed is how clearly I can see the road ahead.

This morning I took the stage at Moon Palace Arena in Cancun, in front of hundreds of franchise owners and hotel operators who wake up every day and run properties, manage teams, and deliver for guests who depend on an affordable, reliable place to stay. The energy in that room was something else. These are not passive investors. These are builders. And they came here ready to build more.

So here is my straight answer on the question everyone keeps asking.

The economy and extended stay segment is not just surviving, it is structurally positioned to be one of the most resilient corners of this industry for the next decade. The demand that fills these rooms is not discretionary. It is the nurse on a 13-week hospital assignment. The technician deployed to an infrastructure project across the country. The family mid-relocation with nowhere else to go. These guests are not cutting trips because the market is uncertain. Their lives require them to be somewhere. And they need a place that works.

What excites me more than the demand story, though, is what we are doing with it. G6 has had a strong year. The pipeline is growing. The product is sharper. And the tools we are putting in the hands of our franchise owners from technology to support infrastructure are changing what it means to operate under this brand. That is what I came to Cancun to talk about. Not just where the market is going, but what we are building inside it.

The operators who stay invested through the noise are the ones who write the next chapter. I am certain of that. And looking out at that room this morning, I think they are too.

#g6hospitality @motel6 #prism

[Ritesh Agarwal @riteshagar]

Most businesses fall into two buckets: painkillers and caffeine fixes.

Painkillers solve a real, painful problem. People are already searching for them.

Caffeine fixes create an extra choice. They depend on persuasion, branding, and marketing.

Neither is wrong. But one is pulled by demand, the other has to constantly push.

So ask yourself honestly: which one are you building?

[Ritesh Agarwal @riteshagar]

Your first $1M in sales usually does not begin with some grand masterplan.

It starts with doing the unglamorous work, finding people who actually want what you are building, getting those first customers in manually, and listening closely enough to keep making the product better.

Fix what they point out. Repeat.

Most of the real progress comes from doing simple things consistently enough that the product improves and demand starts becoming natural instead of manufactured.

[Ritesh Agarwal @riteshagar]

Not every international move needs a huge budget. But every international move needs a clear boundary.

The real danger is not starting small. The real danger is getting emotionally attached to an expansion story and continuing to spend just because you already have.

Today, data and technology make it easier to test global markets with more control. That means founders have a chance to be smarter, not just bigger.

Set the budget. Set the learning goal. Set the line you will not cross.

That discipline matters just as much as the opportunity itself.