Ekostay, the Indian vacation home brand, is accelerating its expansion in South India with a 40-villa boutique cluster spanning the Nilgiris region. The project, which covers Ooty, Coonoor, and Kotagiri, is scheduled for completion in 2026 and is designed to strengthen the company's foothold in the alternative accommodation and experiential travel market.
Project Details and Timeline
Currently, Ekostay has 11 villas in the pipeline, with four already operational. The remaining properties are expected to be ready by mid to late June 2026. Among the new offerings are Under the Pines, Dusk Villa, and Dawn Villa, each designed to reflect the region's scenic beauty. Notably, Dawn and Dusk Villas are adjacent, allowing for combined stays for larger groups.
The expansion aligns with Ekostay's strategy of transforming independent homes into professionally managed, design-forward hospitality experiences. The company has used AI-assisted visualization tools to enhance interior design, experimenting with English pastel palettes and wooden textures.
“The Nilgiris has always held a very timeless and emotional appeal for travellers because the experience here goes far beyond tourism,” said Zishan Khan, Chief Acquisition Officer and Co-Founder of Ekostay.
Founded in 2018, Ekostay continues to grow its footprint across India, focusing on curated villas and experiential private stays tailored for modern travellers. This Nilgiris project marks a significant milestone in its vision to build a robust boutique villa hospitality ecosystem.
For travel professionals, this development signals growing demand for managed villa stays in secondary Indian destinations, a trend that could influence tour operators and agents packaging South India itineraries. The region's appeal to both domestic and international leisure travelers makes it a strategic addition to Ekostay's portfolio.
As the alternative accommodation sector matures, projects like this underscore the shift toward professionally managed, design-led properties that compete with traditional hotels. Ekostay's use of AI in design also highlights how technology is reshaping hospitality operations, a topic explored in our coverage of HOFTEL's Simon Allison on hospitality investments.
The Nilgiris project also aligns with broader trends in luxury and experiential travel, where branded residences and boutique villas are gaining traction. For more on this, see our analysis of the branded residences boom in Southeast Asia.
