GIRISH JHUNJHNUWALA

FOUNDER AND CEO, OVOLO HOTEL GROUP

Nobody looks forward to quarantine on their return to Hong Kong—but at least people staying with the Ovolo Hotel Group can enjoy some perks. Since the Hong Kong government introduced mandatory hotel stays last year, Girish Jhunjhnuwala, Ovolo’s CEO and founder, has led his group to become one of the most popular choices for quarantiners, with virtual happy hours and exercise classes.

A customer-focused approach has been Ovolo’s hallmark from the start. “I started thinking about all the things I didn’t like about other hotels and all the things I would do away with. I didn’t like that the other hotels would nickeland-dime their customers from the moment they walked through the door. That’s never a cool experience,” Jhunjhnuwala says.

Today, the group has 13 hotels: four in Hong Kong, eight across Australia and one in Bali, the latter two destinations stemming from a growing demand from tourists. Once the pandemic subsides and normal travel resumes, how will Jhunjhnuwala feel about his hotels’ association with quarantine? “I am very proud because we’re bringing our people home. Hong Kong residents need to be treated with dignity and I’m proud we get to do this,” he says. As for his personal plans: “I can’t wait to travel again—and, of course, come back and quarantine at my own hotel.”