During a recent interview, Ritesh Agarwal, the CEO of OYO, reflected on his early career days. He shared anecdotes about his time as the boss of his own hospitality company, where he took on multiple roles, including front desk manager and cleaning staff when necessary.

At the age of 19, Agarwal made a pivotal decision to drop out of college, which ultimately shaped his future. This move allowed him to qualify for the prestigious Thiel Fellowship, established by billionaire Peter Thiel. Notably, Agarwal became the first Asian recipient of the fellowship, which granted him $100,000. With this support, he returned to India and embarked on his entrepreneurial journey, founding OYO.

During an interview with BizTalk, Agarwal recounted a memorable incident that occurred while cleaning a hotel room. He found himself face-to-face with an irate customer who expressed his frustration for the delay in service, unaware that Agarwal was the CEO. Mistaking him for a member of the cleaning crew, the customer scolded him for the delay. Taking personal responsibility, Agarwal diligently cleaned the room. Surprisingly, the customer was impressed by his efforts and left a ₹20 tip as a token of appreciation.

Agarwal took to Twitter to highlight an important issue concerning the unsung heroes of the hospitality industry, including housekeepers, front office managers, receptionists, and other behind-the-scenes staff. He emphasized their role in ensuring guests have a remarkable experience during their stay. Agarwal shared his own experience of receiving a ₹20 tip as a housekeeper, further emphasizing the significance of these individuals.

In a 2020 interview with Humans of Bombay, Agarwal elaborated on the early stages of his career, revealing that he had even worked as part of the hotel staff, fulfilling various tasks such as room servicing, babysitting, and even playing UNO with customers. He mentioned how he was sometimes tipped for these services as well.