A group of Pune-based entrepreneurs has launched Guestara, an AI-powered hospitality tech startup, aiming to make guest interactions seamless and personalised for hotels across India and beyond. Founded in 2024 by Akshay Dekate (CEO), Kajal Makhija (CMO), Neelaksh Gupta (CTO), and Rajat Maheshwari (CPO), Guestara is on a mission to redefine how hotels engage with their guests and boost operational efficiency.
The Founders’ Journey: From Employees to Innovators
Kajal Makhija, an MBA in Marketing, along with her co-founders, leveraged years of experience in the service and hospitality tech industry to identify a major gap-hotels struggled to deliver truly personalised guest engagement due to fragmented systems and manual processes. Together, the team set out to build a platform that automates and centralises guest management, making every interaction meaningful and efficient.
What Makes Guestara Unique?
Guestara stands apart with its AI-driven, modular, and open API platform that integrates seamlessly with leading Property Management Systems (PMS). Key features include:
- AI-Driven Unified Inbox: Centralises all guest communications (WhatsApp, email, OTAs) with instant, context-aware AI responses.
- Personalised Upselling: Suggests tailored offers at the right moment, increasing hotel revenue without extra staff effort.
- Contactless Check-in & Smart Checkout: Streamlines the guest journey, reducing front desk workload and boosting satisfaction.
- Guest App: Offers a self-service platform for bookings, requests, and real-time communication.
- Digital Guidebooks: Provides guests with recommendations for local attractions and dining, adding value to their stay.
- Real-Time Sentiment Collection: Gathers guest feedback to improve service quality instantly.
- Seamless Integrations: Works smoothly with other hospitality tech tools, ensuring easy adoption for hotels of all sizes.
- Customisable & Scalable: Adaptable for boutique hotels, resorts, and large chains alike.
Tangible Impact: Efficiency, Satisfaction, Revenue
Early results from Guestara’s beta clients-including three global hotel chains-are impressive. Hotels have reported:
- 20% improvement in operational efficiency.
- 35% increase in guest satisfaction.
- 57% growth in incremental revenue.
These numbers highlight Guestara’s ability to deliver real business value through AI-powered automation.
Flexible Pricing for Every Hotel
Guestara operates on a subscription model, with plans starting at $99 per month. Pricing scales based on property size, required features, and customisation, making it accessible for both boutique hotels and large groups. Enterprise solutions are available for hotels needing advanced integrations.
Strong Investor Backing and Growth Plans
The startup recently secured $500,000 in pre-seed funding, led by travel tech entrepreneur Sanjay Ghare. This investment will accelerate product development and global expansion, with a vision to onboard 2 million rooms worldwide.
The Human Touch Remains Key
While Guestara leverages AI to automate routine tasks and provide real-time insights, the founders emphasise that technology is an enabler, not a replacement for genuine hospitality. Their goal is to free up hotel staff to focus on delivering memorable, high-value guest experiences.
Looking Ahead: A Global Vision
In the next five years, Guestara aims to:
- Expand into new international markets.
- Enhance AI capabilities for smarter automation.
- Partner with major hospitality brands to redefine guest experiences globally.
Advice for Aspiring Entrepreneurs
Kajal Makhija advises new founders to solve real problems, stay adaptable, listen to users, and be resilient. “Success is about persistence and learning from challenges along the way,” she shares.