With over a decade of experience spanning some of the most disruptive names in Indian and international hospitality, including FabHotels, Bloomrooms, OYO, and Wyndham Hotels & Resorts—Siddharth Kochhar has seen the inner workings of the industry from the ground up. As the former Development Manager for Wyndham in the Eurasia region, he led the expansion of a portfolio that included over 70 operational hotels and nearly 50 in the pipeline, bringing global brands like Ramada and Wyndham Garden to new markets across India, Nepal, Bhutan, and Sri Lanka. As the Founder of The BOH Labs, a design-led hospitality startup, Siddharth is focused on transforming overlooked hotel assets into modern, community-centric spaces powered by technology and driven by purpose.
In this exclusive conversation with Business Review Live, Siddharth Kochhar shares what inspired The BOH Labs, how his past shaped the present, and what the future looks like for India’s new wave of hospitality—where every square foot is thoughtfully designed, every process optimized, and every guest experience deeply local yet universally modern.
1. What inspired the launch of The BOH Labs in 2024, and what does the name stand for?
The idea for The BOH Labs emerged from a clear market gap in India’s mid-scale hospitality segment. While the luxury boutique hotel market is booming—with projected revenues of USD 1.28 billion by 2030—mid-tier hotels remain underserved. Globally, hotels have evolved into social hubs, blending design, function, and community. I wanted to bring that experience-first, design-led approach to Indian hotels that often lack identity and connection.
We saw an opportunity to transform underperforming, unbranded hotels into vibrant spaces that foster creativity, community, and seamless guest experiences. The name “The BOH LABS” reflects this vision: “BOH” stands for back of house—the operational core of a hotel, which we believe holds untapped potential. “Labs” highlights our data-driven, solution-oriented approach to rethinking hospitality from the inside out. Our mission is to democratize great design and elevate guest experiences across India’s growing hospitality landscape.
2. What are the core pillars of The BOH Labs hospitality model?
The BOH LABS stands on three key pillars—design-forward, tech-driven, and culture-immersive—each shaping how we reimagine hospitality for today’s traveler.
- Design-forward means crafting purposeful spaces that are both aesthetically striking and operationally smart, blending modern sensibilities with local flavor.
- Tech-driven hospitality enables seamless experiences through digital concierge services, contactless check-ins, and energy-efficient systems that improve both guest satisfaction and back-end efficiency.
- Culture-immersive design ensures every property feels rooted in its location—through collaborations with local artists, community events, and regionally inspired materials—offering guests a deeper, more authentic connection to the place.
3. What approach does The BOH Labs take to reimagine and reposition existing hotels as modern lifestyle properties?
At The BOH Labs, we revitalize underperforming hotel assets by turning them into design-forward, tech-enabled lifestyle hotels. The transformation starts with optimizing often-overlooked back-of-house areas to improve operational flow. Public spaces like lobbies and lounges are reimagined to be multifunctional, guest-centric hubs. We collaborate with architects, designers, and planners to ensure each space blends aesthetics with efficiency. Our brand team ensures every property reflects a strong identity, while smart technology—like digital concierge services—is seamlessly integrated to enhance both guest experience and operations. The result is a modern, community-driven hotel that resonates with today’s traveler.
4. Can you walk us through the business and revenue model that drives The BOH Labs?
The BOH Labs operates on a flexible, multi-channel revenue model designed for scalability and long-term growth. At its core, the business focuses on building strong lifestyle hotel brands that resonate with modern travelers. Depending on the partner’s needs, we offer a tailored mix of franchise agreements, management contracts, and revenue-sharing models. This hybrid approach allows both large hospitality players and independent hotel owners to benefit from our proven framework while maintaining operational flexibility. By combining strategic partnerships with design-led transformation, The BOH Labs drives sustainable profitability and brand-led growth across India’s evolving hospitality sector.
5. How is The BOH Labs integrating technology to redefine the modern hotel stay?
At The BOH Labs, technology is central to creating a seamless, personalized, and contactless guest experience. We integrate advanced Property Management Systems (PMS) to streamline operations, enabling smooth check-ins, real-time service requests, and efficient resource management.
Our digital concierge services, available via mobile apps or in-room devices, allow guests to request services, access information, and book experiences directly from their smartphones. Features like keyless entry and automated messaging further enhance convenience and personalization while reducing the need for physical interaction.
We also leverage smart tech to optimize underutilized spaces such as lobbies and lounges, turning them into revenue-generating social hubs. This tech-driven approach not only elevates guest satisfaction but also improves operational efficiency—positioning The BOH Labs as a leader in modern, future-ready hospitality.
6. What design philosophy drives The BOH Labs’ approach to shaping its properties?
At The BOH Labs, design goes beyond aesthetics—it’s functional, emotional, and deeply contextual. Every project begins by asking: How do people move, feel, and work in this space? That insight drives our highly personalized, ground-up design approach.
We immerse ourselves in each property—observing workflows, speaking with staff, and studying the environment. Our team conducts micro-level research on everything from lighting and ventilation to storage ergonomics, ensuring that every design choice supports both guest comfort and staff efficiency.
We also collaborate with local artisans and designers, blending regional materials with our tech-forward hospitality systems to create spaces that feel natural, not forced. For us, great back-of-house design should be invisible—supporting seamless operations without calling attention to itself. This thoughtful, human-centric approach ensures that each The BOH Labs hotel delivers a design-led experience that’s both intuitive and unforgettable.
7. How does The BOH Labs balance showcasing local culture in each property while maintaining a consistent brand identity?
At The BOH Labs, we ensure every property reflects its local culture while staying true to our design-forward, community-driven brand identity. We do this through a thoughtful mix of local sourcing and strategic design integration.
Each hotel incorporates locally sourced materials, regional art, and handcrafted furnishings that celebrate the area’s heritage. This not only supports local artisans but also creates a sense of authenticity and place for guests.
To maintain brand consistency, we align every element—color palettes, lighting, textures, and layouts—with The BOH Labs’ signature aesthetic: modern, functional, and culturally immersive. The result is a unique yet cohesive experience, where each property feels rooted in its location while unmistakably part of the BOH Labs family.
8. What types of communal and interactive spaces does The BOH Labs incorporate into its hotels, and what purpose do these spaces serve?
At The BOH Labs, communal spaces are a core part of our hospitality concept. We design each hotel to foster connection, creativity, and productivity, offering more than just a place to stay.
Our properties feature multi-purpose lobbies, co-working lounges, rentable podcast studios, content creator zones, and hybrid event venues. These spaces are thoughtfully designed with comfortable seating, high-speed internet, communal tables, and charging points—perfect for working, networking, or relaxing.
By integrating these interactive, shared environments, we cater to digital nomads, business travelers, and modern explorers who value community and flexibility. It’s all part of our mission to create hotels that feel more like dynamic social hubs than just accommodations.
9. What are the key challenges facing independent hoteliers today, and how does The BOH Labs address these issues?
Independent and small hoteliers often struggle with operational inefficiencies, limited access to hospitality technology, lack of brand identity, and the challenge of competing with large hotel chains. Tight budgets make it difficult to upgrade properties or deliver consistent, high-quality guest experiences.
At The BOH Labs, we solve these challenges through a holistic hospitality solution that combines design-led transformation, tech-enabled operations, and strategic brand building. We revamp both back-of-house and guest-facing areas to improve efficiency and appeal, working with local designers and consultants to create spaces that are operationally smart and visually compelling.
Our tech stack includes PMS integration, keyless entry, digital concierge services, and dynamic pricing, helping small hotels modernize without heavy upfront investment. We also help partners craft a distinct lifestyle hotel brand that blends local culture, community engagement, and modern design—enabling them to stand out, scale effectively, and drive sustainable profitability.
10. What strategies does The BOH LABS use to involve local artists and community members?
At The BOH Labs, community integration is core to our brand. We actively collaborate with local artists, performers, and businesses to make each property a vibrant reflection of its surroundings.
- Local Art Curation: We showcase original works by regional artists across our spaces—each piece adds cultural depth and gives local creatives a platform.
- Cultural Programming: Our hotels host live performances, pop-ups, and creative workshops, connecting guests with the local scene.
- Support for Local Business: From sourcing produce for our kitchens to stocking local goods in retail corners, we amplify neighborhood entrepreneurs.
- Artist Pop-Up Stores: We create rotating micro-retail spaces where designers and makers can sell directly to guests—no barriers, just visibility.
- Local Hiring: We prioritize hiring from the community to keep guest experiences authentic and rooted in local energy.
11. What roadmap has The BOH Labs outlined for its expansion and growth?
The BOH Labs is actively expanding across India’s Tier 1 cities—including Mumbai, Delhi NCR, Bengaluru, and Hyderabad—to refine our model in high-demand, operationally complex markets. These cities allow us to build scalable systems, showcase strong case studies, and partner with both legacy and emerging hospitality players.
Looking ahead, we plan to enter Tier 2 and Tier 3 cities like Jaipur, Indore, Kochi, Varanasi, and Bhubaneswar, where the hospitality sector is booming but still underserved by efficient infrastructure. These culturally rich markets offer incredible opportunities for design-forward, tech-enabled hotel transformations.
Our 24-month target is to onboard at least 10 new properties, primarily in Tier 1 markets, with each hotel acting as a flagship example of The BOH Labs in action—delivering enhanced guest satisfaction and operational efficiency.
While international expansion—particularly in Southeast Asia and the Middle East—is on our long-term roadmap, our current focus remains on scaling responsibly across India, city by city.
Visit the Official Website: www.thebohlabs.com
Connect on LinkedIn: Siddharth Kochhar
