About Us

StayHats is the official booking platform of the Kerala Homestay and Tourism Society (Kerala HATS) – Kerala’s largest collective of licensed homestays, serviced villas, farm stays, and community tourism initiatives.

Founded in 2008, Kerala HATS has been at the forefront of authentic, sustainable, and community-driven tourism in Kerala. With over 1,500 member homestays across 58 destinations, we bring travelers closer to the real Kerala – its culture, people, and traditions – while ensuring fair opportunities for local entrepreneurs.

Our Journey

Kerala HATS began its journey with the vision of Mr. M.P. Sivadathan, who earlier led India’s first Model Tourism Village Project at Kumbalanghi – a UNDP-recognized initiative.

Guided by Dr. K.M. Muraleedharan Menon, Kerala’s first Ph.D. holder in Tourism, our society has designed and executed several pioneering projects in backwater tourism, eco-tourism, cultural tourism, and rural tourism.

Over the years, Kerala HATS has organized state-level workshops, business travel marts, and annual conferences, providing homestay entrepreneurs with opportunities to grow, network, and market themselves.

What We Do

Promote Licensed Homestays: We support hosts in achieving official tourism classification, ensuring travelers a safe and reliable experience.

Capacity Building: From hygiene and food safety to marketing and hospitality training, we equip our members with the skills needed to thrive.

Sustainable Tourism: Our programs emphasize eco-friendly practices, gender equity, waste management, and conservation.

Global Promotion: Kerala HATS has published homestay directories both in print and online, now available across 175 countries through platforms like Google Books, Amazon Kindle, Apple Books, Lulu, and Flipkart.

Collaborations: We work closely with the Responsible Tourism Mission, NABARD (through the “Grama Vihar” project), Kerala Tourism, and central government agencies to promote rural tourism and community livelihoods.

Why StayHats?

StayHats is more than just a booking portal. It is a movement to empower local communities, create authentic experiences for travelers, and build a sustainable future for Kerala’s tourism industry.

When you book through StayHats, you are not just reserving a room – you are becoming part of a community story, supporting local families, and experiencing the soul of Kerala.

About Zotel.ai
Zotel.ai is a Kerala-based hospitality tech company providing AI-powered full-stack solutions for independent properties. Its platform helps partners streamline bookings, improve digital presence, and grow direct revenue — without relying on large OTAs alone