Pune-based Entrepreneurs Launch Hospitality Tech Startup Using AI, Making Guest Interactions Seamless And Personalised

After doing an MBA in Marketing, Pune’s Kajal Makhija started working in the service industry, leading marketing teams, optimising client retention strategies, and driving business growth in the hospitality tech industry. 

In an exclusive interview with Startup Pedia, Kajal Makhija said that after doing the MBA, though she was rising the corporate ladder, she often thought about how she could use her skills in the most effective way.

Employee turns entrepreneur

In the meantime, Kajal’s friend and co-worker, Akshay Dekate, was planning for an AI-powered platform that would empower hotels with automation to enhance guest engagement, streamline operations, and boost revenue. 

He observed a big gap in the hospitality industry. Hotels often struggle to deliver truly personalised guest engagement due to fragmented systems and manual processes, making interactions feel transactional rather than meaningful.

While hotels aim to enhance guest experiences, they lack the right tools to do so efficiently. Akshay wanted to develop a platform that would transform the hospitality industry.

In 2024, Kajal Makhija, Neelaksh Gupta and Rajat Maheshwari joined Akshay Dekate in his dream mission and founded Guestara, an AI-powered platform to transform guest engagement and revenue generation.

The four have been co-workers and friends with solid experience in the service industry.

Akshay Dekate (CEO), Kajal Makhija (CMO), Neelaksh Gupta (CTO), and Rajat Maheshwari (CPO) are the four pillars of the  AI-powered hospitality tech startup.

“Together, we bring a strong mix of business acumen, technological innovation, and industry experience to revolutionise guest management,” Guestara co-founder Kajal Makhija told Startup Pedia.

Guestara’s main goal is to bring efficiency, personalisation, and scalability to the hospitality industry.

“At Guestara, I spearhead all marketing efforts, including SEO, LinkedIn strategy, Digital PR, brand awareness, and event marketing, positioning Guestara as a leading AI-powered platform transforming guest engagement and revenue generation,” she added.

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The story behind the founding of Guestara

The startup was founded to bridge a crucial gap in the hospitality industry. Hotels often struggle to deliver truly personalised guest engagement due to fragmented systems and manual processes, making interactions feel transactional rather than meaningful.

While hotels aim to enhance guest experiences, they lack the right tools to do so efficiently. To solve this, the founders launched an AI-powered startup that empowers hotels with automation to enhance guest engagement, streamline operations, and boost revenue.

“Our goal is to bring efficiency, personalisation, and scalability to the hospitality industry,” Kajal Makhija revealed to Startup Pedia.

How does Guestara function? The work model

Guestara operates as a software platform that integrates with hotel Property Management Systems (PMS) and other hospitality tech tools. It brings together guest communication, contactless check-in, upselling opportunities, and performance insights into a single, easy-to-use system.

“By automating repetitive tasks and optimising guest interactions, we help hotels operate more efficiently while elevating the overall guest experience,” Kajal shared with Startup Pedia.

How is Guestara any different from related platforms?

Guestara differentiates itself through its AI-powered automation, modular approach, and open API integration. Key features that set us apart include:

●       AI-Driven Unified Inbox: Centralises all guest communications across WhatsApp, email, and OTAs, with instant, context-aware AI responses.

●       Personalised Upselling: Suggests tailored offers at the right moment, increasing revenue without added effort from hotel staff.

●       Contactless Check-in & Smart Checkout: Streamlines the guest journey, reducing front desk workload and improving satisfaction.

●       Guest App: Enhances guest experience with a self-service platform for bookings, requests, and real-time communication.

●       Guidebooks: Provide digital recommendations for local attractions, dining, and experiences, helping hotels add value to guest stays.

●       Sentiment Collection: Gathers real-time guest feedback to improve service quality and enhance satisfaction.

●       Seamless Integrations: Works with leading PMS and hospitality tech providers, enabling hotels to enhance existing systems without disruption.

●       Customizable & Scalable: Adapts to the unique needs of boutique hotels, resorts, and large hospitality chains.

Pricing details for services

Guestara offers subscription plans starting at $99 per month, with pricing that scales based on property size, required features, and customisation levels. This flexible approach ensures that hotels of various sizes and needs can access the platform's AI-powered guest management solutions.

Pricing model

Guestara follows a subscription model, offering scalable plans tailored to different property sizes and needs.

“We also provide enterprise solutions for hotel groups requiring advanced customisation and integrations,” the hospitality tech startup founder informed.

AI-based startup co-founder’s take on AI

Pune entrepreneur Kajal Makhija claims that AI is a powerful enabler, not a replacement for human expertise.

“In hospitality, AI can automate routine tasks, provide real-time insights, and enhance guest interactions, but the human touch remains irreplaceable,” she disclosed to Startup Pedia. “The best results come from AI supporting hotel teams, allowing them to focus on meaningful, high-value guest experiences,” she added.

Initial investment to crack the hospitality tech startup industry

The lady entrepreneur said that the hospitality tech startup industry is growing, however, it is quite expensive.

“We successfully raised $500K in pre-seed funding, which has been instrumental in building a strong AI infrastructure and forming strategic partnerships to scale our platform,” Kajal said.

The investors share the founders’ vision of transforming guest management with AI-powered automation.

“The pre-seed funding we raised would accelerate growth and expand our footprint in the hospitality tech industry,” Guestara’s co-founder told Startup Pedia.

Advice for new entrepreneurs

Guestara’s Kajal Makhija believes in solving a real problem as an entrepreneur. According to her, the best startups are born from identifying deep-rooted inefficiencies and building solutions that create tangible value.

“Stay adaptable, listen to your users, and iterate fast. Most importantly, resilience is key—success is about persistence and learning from challenges along the way,” she told wisely.

Vision for Guestara in the next 5 years

Pune-based hospitality tech startup Guestara is a leading AI-driven guest management platform worldwide.

In the next five years, they are aiming to:

●       Expand into new international markets.

●       Enhance AI capabilities to offer even more intelligent automation.

●       Partner with major hospitality brands to redefine guest experiences globally. 

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