OYO’s Acquisition of MadeComfy: What It Means for Landlords

OYO has acquired Australia’s MadeComfy in a $50M+ deal. Learn what this means for Airbnb landlords and how to navigate changes through providers like Lane.

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1. What Happened: OYO Acquires MadeComfy

In one of the most significant shakeups to Australia’s short-term rental industry in years, global hotel and travel-tech giant OYO has acquired MadeComfy, the Sydney-based short-stay property management platform, in a deal reportedly worth over $50 million.

MadeComfy, founded in 2015 by husband-and-wife team Quirin and Sabrina Schwaighofer, has become a familiar name among Australian Airbnb landlords. The company manages over 1,300 properties across Australia and New Zealand, offering end-to-end services including dynamic pricing, listing creation, housekeeping, maintenance coordination and guest communications.

The acquisition gives OYO—founded by Indian entrepreneur Ritesh Agarwal—a direct entry into the Australian market. OYO already operates a vast global portfolio, with over 230,000 properties across 35 countries, including budget hotels and short-stay vacation rentals under brands like Belvilla in Europe.

According to reports, the MadeComfy deal involved a mix of cash and equity in OYO’s parent company, Oravel Stays, with the company’s existing co-founders remaining as co-CEOs “for now.” The MadeComfy brand is expected to continue, although the long-term roadmap hasn’t been made public.

For OYO, this move expands their global footprint and adds an established pipeline of professionally managed Airbnb listings in Australia—a region the company has had limited reach in until now.

For MadeComfy landlords, however, the acquisition introduces a number of unknowns. While no immediate operational changes have been announced, the shift from a locally-grown platform to one backed by a multinational hotel group raises questions around future service models, platform integration, and support structures.

In the following sections, we’ll unpack what this could mean for property owners, what might change behind the scenes, and how to prepare for potential impacts to your property performance and control.

2. Deal Context – What We Know About the Terms

While the exact financial details of OYO’s acquisition of MadeComfy haven’t been officially disclosed, multiple sources close to the deal have confirmed that the transaction values MadeComfy at more than $50 million. The purchase is said to include a mix of cash and shares in OYO’s parent company, Oravel Stays, with a portion of the equity deferred over two years.

This places the deal as the second-largest acquisition in Australia’s short-term rental market—behind the $220 million sale of Stayz to HomeAway in 2013, and ahead of Alloggio’s 2023 sale to Next Capital for $48.2 million. It's a notable moment in a sector that’s seen limited large-scale M&A activity in recent years.

A strategic entry for OYO

The acquisition gives OYO its first major footprint in the Australian and New Zealand short-term rental market, following previous international acquisitions such as Motel 6 in the US and Leisure Group in Europe (which includes brands like Belvilla). It’s part of a broader global strategy to expand OYO’s presence beyond traditional hotels and into the vacation rental space.

According to the AFR, OYO initiated the discussions, with co-founder Ritesh Agarwal reportedly joining meetings early on. Agarwal, a former Thiel Fellow who built OYO from scratch in his teens, has led the company to scale rapidly across markets—with results that have drawn both admiration and scrutiny, depending on the region.

What remains—at least for now

MadeComfy’s founders, Quirin and Sabrina Schwaighofer, will stay on as co-CEOs under the new ownership. The MadeComfy brand is expected to continue, and existing clients have not been informed of any immediate service changes. The company says it plans to continue growing across Australia and New Zealand with “more structure, funding and support.”

That said, these kinds of transitions often bring phased changes behind the scenes—from software integrations and staff changes to revised business priorities. OYO’s acquisitions elsewhere have typically been followed by centralised systems, pricing automation tools, and brand consolidation—all of which can affect how local properties are managed, even if the front-facing brand remains the same.

For landlords, the structure of the deal may seem distant—but the consequences are likely to be very real. In the next section, we’ll explore why this matters, and what kinds of changes are most likely to emerge in the months ahead.

3. Why This Matters for Airbnb Landlords

At face value, the acquisition may appear like a straightforward change in ownership. But for landlords whose properties are managed by MadeComfy, this deal signals more than just a corporate reshuffle. It represents a shift in the underlying business model—from an Australian-based startup to part of a global hotel-tech conglomerate with very different priorities, systems, and ways of operating.

While the founders remain at the helm and have publicly stated their commitment to “building on what they started,” transitions like this are rarely without impact.

Here’s why landlords should take note:

1. MadeComfy is no longer locally owned

This acquisition marks the end of MadeComfy’s time as an independent Australian business. Strategic decisions will now be influenced—if not directed—by OYO’s global leadership, based offshore. This could mean future service changes are driven by broader business goals, rather than local market nuance.

2. History suggests operational shifts are likely

OYO has a track record of rolling out its own proprietary systems following acquisitions, particularly in pricing, guest booking flows, and platform integrations. While these tools can be powerful, they often prioritise efficiency and scale over customisation or local flexibility.

3. Landlords may experience changes to service delivery

There’s currently no suggestion that landlords will see immediate differences in service. But in similar acquisitions, property owners have seen adjustments over time—such as:

Even small changes can affect occupancy, guest experience, and ultimately, owner revenue.

4. The ‘startup culture’ may evolve

Part of MadeComfy’s appeal to landlords has been its mix of digital tools and human service—something often missing from traditional real estate agencies. With the company now under the umbrella of a multinational, some landlords may wonder whether the hands-on, personal support will remain.

While none of these outcomes are guaranteed, the pattern in previous OYO acquisitions suggests landlords would be wise to pay close attention. As we’ll explore next, some of the most impactful changes may come from behind the scenes.

4. What Could Change for Landlords

Although the MadeComfy brand is continuing and no formal changes have been announced yet, acquisitions of this scale typically lead to behind-the-scenes restructuring. For landlords, the most meaningful impacts often come not from headline announcements—but from gradual shifts in the way properties are managed.

Based on how OYO has integrated past acquisitions, here are the areas where landlords could see changes in the months ahead:

1. Technology Stack & Pricing Tools

OYO is known for its proprietary revenue management system, dynamic pricing tools, and booking engine integrations. While these systems are designed for efficiency, they may replace or override MadeComfy’s existing pricing logic or third-party integrations. Landlords who are used to transparent pricing models may find themselves in a more opaque system—especially if changes are rolled out without consultation.

2. Booking Flow and Distribution Channels

One of the more significant but easily overlooked changes under OYO’s ownership may come from how and where your property is booked. Under MadeComfy, the emphasis has been on maximising visibility through high-performing platforms like Airbnb, Booking.com, and Stayz, which are widely used by both domestic and international guests. These channels are optimised for searchability, guest reviews, and platform-native features that directly affect occupancy and revenue.

However, OYO operates very differently. As a global travel-tech company, it has invested heavily in its own proprietary booking systems and brand ecosystem—including platforms like Belvilla in Europe and OYO Rooms in Asia. With the acquisition of MadeComfy, OYO may view this as an opportunity not just to expand inventory, but to establish a direct booking foothold in Australia.

If so, Airbnb and other third-party channels may become secondary priorities. In other markets, OYO has shown a willingness to accept short-term drops in bookings or revenue in order to drive traffic to its own platforms, where it controls guest data, avoids external commission fees, and owns the end-to-end customer relationship.

For landlords, this could mean reduced visibility on the platforms that matter most. Even if your listing remains on Airbnb, it may no longer be actively optimised for that platform’s internal algorithms, potentially leading to fewer bookings and lower placement in search results. You may not be notified when these shifts happen—they could occur gradually behind the scenes.

Additionally, bookings funneled through OYO’s own channels may come with a more hotel-like guest experience, including less personalised communication, fixed check-in procedures, and different review systems. This could impact guest expectations, especially for those accustomed to Airbnb’s more flexible, host-centric experience.

Ultimately, if OYO is positioning MadeComfy as a launchpad for its own direct booking strategy, landlords may find themselves caught in the middle—benefiting less from the exposure of major platforms, while having little control over how and where their property is marketed.

3. Fee Structures & Owner Terms

OYO may eventually standardise service fees or commission models, especially if MadeComfy’s existing pricing doesn’t align with its global benchmarks. This has been a common outcome in similar rollouts, with owners seeing increased costs or less flexibility around inclusions.

4. Support & Communication

One of the strengths of local providers is responsive, human service. But as teams integrate, landlords may experience:

For owners accustomed to a single point of contact, this can be a frustrating transition.

5. Owner Autonomy

Many landlords choose short-term rental platforms because of the flexibility—blocking out dates, adjusting settings, reviewing guest suitability. As OYO systems roll out, owner control could be limited depending on how permissions and dashboards are structured.

5. Questions Landlords Should Be Asking Now

With the transition underway and little public detail on how operations will evolve, MadeComfy landlords are right to start asking direct, practical questions. Even if the service appears unchanged for now, structural shifts of this size often bring incremental changes behind the scenes—and by the time they’re visible, they can be harder to reverse.

Here are the key questions property owners should be asking their account managers or MadeComfy representatives:

Contract & Terms

Bookings & Platforms

Service & Support

Tech & Transparency

Even if you don’t receive firm answers right away, starting the conversation early helps you spot patterns and make better-informed decisions. It’s also a chance to reassess whether the service still aligns with your goals—especially if flexibility, local knowledge, or platform-specific visibility are important to you.

In the next section, we’ll weigh up how global operators like OYO compare with local property managers when it comes to service, transparency, and long-term alignment with property owners.

6. Comparing Global vs Local Property Management

For landlords watching this acquisition unfold, the shift raises a broader question: What kind of property manager is best suited to your goals?

OYO’s entry into the Australian market via MadeComfy highlights the contrast between large-scale, global operators and locally focused providers—both of which offer distinct advantages, depending on your needs.

Global Operators (e.g. OYO)

Advantages:

Considerations:

Global firms are built for efficiency at scale. That often benefits the business—but not always the individual landlord, especially when responsiveness, platform performance, or property-specific strategy is important.

Local Providers (Independent or Boutique Firms)

Advantages:

Considerations:

Crucially, working with a local team no longer means sacrificing automation or digital performance. Many now operate with similar technology stacks—from pricing optimisation to guest messaging workflows—while retaining more hands-on oversight of each property.

In times of transition like this, some landlords may find that a locally run model—especially one that still prioritises Airbnb and guest satisfaction—offers more clarity and control. Others may prefer to wait and see how the changes play out under OYO’s leadership.

There’s no one-size-fits-all answer. But understanding the operational models behind your property manager can help you decide what kind of approach fits your investment priorities.

7. What Should MadeComfy Landlords Do Now?

While there’s no indication of immediate disruption, MadeComfy’s acquisition by OYO represents a meaningful shift in how your property might be managed in the months ahead. Even if daily operations feel unchanged for now, ownership transitions of this scale often involve gradual changes—some of which may only become visible once they begin to affect booking performance, guest reviews, or account servicing.

If you're a current MadeComfy landlord, here are three steps worth taking now:

1. Ask the right questions

Start by contacting your account manager and seeking clarity on what’s ahead. Useful areas to explore include:

Even if there aren’t definitive answers yet, raising these points early can help you track what’s evolving behind the scenes.

2. Monitor performance closely

Keep an eye on booking volumes, source breakdowns (e.g. Airbnb vs other platforms), average nightly rates, and guest satisfaction scores. These metrics can be early indicators of backend or strategic shifts—especially if listings start being routed through unfamiliar channels or bookings decline without clear explanation.

If possible, benchmark your property's current performance so you can spot any change in trend lines over the next few quarters.

3. Reassess your management fit

You don’t need to switch managers today—but this is a good time to re-evaluate whether your current setup still suits your goals. Are you receiving the level of service and transparency you want? Does your provider prioritise Airbnb and guest experience in a way that aligns with how you want your property run?

For landlords who value flexibility, platform visibility, and responsive communication, it may be worth exploring alternatives—whether to compare offerings, gain leverage in upcoming negotiations, or simply know your options if the service model starts to shift.

8. Conclusion – OYO Acquires MadeComfy: What It Means for Airbnb Landlords

OYO’s acquisition of MadeComfy marks a significant moment for Australia’s short-term rental sector. It’s a sign that global hotel-tech operators see long-term value in the Airbnb property management model—and are willing to invest heavily to gain a foothold in local markets.

For landlords, the implications aren’t necessarily negative, but they are uncertain. OYO brings resources, technology, and booking infrastructure. But it also brings a different set of priorities—ones shaped by global objectives, not individual properties.

If you currently list with MadeComfy, now is the time to ask questions, review your performance data, and stay alert to how your property is being marketed, priced, and supported. Even subtle shifts in booking channels or support processes can impact your bottom line.

And if you’re weighing your options, remember: the best outcomes in short-term rentals often come from a balance of strong systems and personalised support. Whether you stay where you are or explore alternatives, what matters most is that your property remains aligned with your goals—not just the goals of the company managing it.

Reach out to Lane Property to learn more about our services.

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