Learning to host, growing a community
Babita
📍Uttarakhand, India
In New Tehri, what began as two small rooms during the COVID pandemic has grown into a peaceful homestay of five cottages, surrounded by lake views and Himalayan peaks.Guided by the Airbnb Academy in Chamba, Babita turned her homestay into a thriving, eco-conscious business that showcases Pahadi culture, creates jobs for neighbours, and offers guests a true “home away from home” in the mountains.
Growing through learning
Before the Airbnb Academy, Babita had been hosting based on instinct alone. The training in Chamba gave her the structure and skills to grow with confidence. Step by step, she learned how to register on Airbnb, upload accurate photos and videos of her homestay, design house rules and itineraries, and serve guests with confidence.
Babita's homestay has now grown into a wholesome and authentic experience, built on skills Babita cultivated through the programme. For Babita, the training was the moment she realised that hosting could be a real livelihood and a way to carry her culture forward.
We were running the business, but we did not know how to truly run the business. We did not know how to handle the guests, how to welcome them, how to see them off. During the training, we learned all these things. The training was very special for me.
We were running the business, but we did not know how to truly run the business. We did not know how to handle the guests, how to welcome them, how to see them off. During the training, we learned all these things. The training was very special for me.
An eco-friendly homestay rooted in Pahadi culture
An eco-friendly homestay rooted in Pahadi culture
Through the workshop, Babita realised that her homestay was more than just rooms with a view. Trainers encouraged her to highlight what made her place unique, from the wildlife around her home to the stories embedded in local traditions.She created an itinerary that introduces guests to her eco-friendly homestay: mornings that begin with birdsong, deer that sometimes pass nearby, and sweeping views of the lake and Himalayas. Inside, she set up a special corner filled with traditional objects, giving guests a quiet space to learn about Pahadi life and ask questions about local customs, jewellery, and mountain history.
I made an itinerary for my eco-friendly homestay. Different birds come near my homestay, bird sounds in the early morning, sunrise looks very good from here. I created a personal space with my traditional things, and guests are excited to know about our culture.
I made an itinerary for my eco-friendly homestay. Different birds come near my homestay, bird sounds in the early morning, sunrise looks very good from here. I created a personal space with my traditional things, and guests are excited to know about our culture.
Creating a chain of livelihoods
Hosting has completely reshaped Babita’s life. After leaving her previous job to care for her children, the homestay gave her a new way to support her family while staying close to home. As bookings grew, so did the number of people who depend on her homestay for work.Today, she employs a cook and a helper who manages cleaning, connects guests with local taxi drivers, and supports women who supply homemade pickles, sweets, and traditional dishes made from organic produce grown on her farm.Her homestay was the first in the village. Now, six more have opened nearby, inspired by her example, and more women are earning an income without leaving their homes or children behind.
Hosting has completely reshaped Babita’s life. After leaving her previous job to care for her children, the homestay gave her a new way to support her family while staying close to home. As bookings grew, so did the number of people who depend on her homestay for work.Today, she employs a cook and a helper who manages cleaning, connects guests with local taxi drivers, and supports women who supply homemade pickles, sweets, and traditional dishes made from organic produce grown on her farm. Her homestay was the first in the village. Now, six more have opened nearby, inspired by her example, and more women are earning an income without leaving their homes or children behind.
Because of this homestay, I have work; and I have given work to others too. The cook, the boy who looks after cleaning, the taxi driver, the lady who makes homemade pickles and sweets – they have all got employment. Women who are not able to travel for work can still run a business from the comfort of their home while also caring for their household responsibilities and children. Women get a new identity when you do something for them.
Because of this homestay, I have work; and I have given work to others too. The cook, the boy who looks after cleaning, the taxi driver, the lady who makes homemade pickles and sweets – they have all got employment. Women who are not able to travel for work can still run a business from the comfort of their home while also caring for their household responsibilities and children. Women get a new identity when you do something for them.
A true home away from home
Besides admiring the beautiful lake, Himalayas, or the famous Pariyon Ka Desh mountain, guests also come for a sense of peace, home-cooked food, and the feeling of being cared for like family. Some stay for weeks or even months, working remotely while they recharge in the hills. Regulars, including a team of doctors from All India Institute of Medical Sciences (AIIMS), return season after season to unwind from demanding shifts. For families and women travellers, the homestay’s safety and Babita’s presence as an on-site host matter deeply. For her, the highest compliment is when guests say they feel at home.
Our guests say they do not feel like they are out of the house. Our tagline is ‘Home away from home’. For women and families, it is very safe here because I am the owner and I stay on the property with my family. They can work, rest, and feel at peace.
Our guests say they do not feel like they are out of the house. Our tagline is ‘Home away from home’. For women and families, it is very safe here because I am the owner and I stay on the property with my family. They can work, rest, and feel at peace.
A model for community-led tourism in Uttarakhand
A model for community-led tourism in Uttarakhand
From two rooms during the pandemic to a sought-after homestay with five cottages, Babita’s journey shows how investments in the community can reshape tourism in areas beyond the city. With support from the Airbnb Academy, she has built a business that keeps value in the village and invites guests to experience Uttarakhand through the eyes of its people. Her story also reflects a wider shift across the state. As more villagers open homestays and more women step into entrepreneurship, community tourism in places like Tehri is becoming a pathway to income, and fosters pride in local identity. Babita hopes that such trainings will help her and others improve, so that every year, guests experience something new, and every stay strengthens the community.
