Zomato Strengthens ‘Going Out’ Vertical with Kunal Khambhati

Industry Watch | October 9, 2024 | News

Zomato Kunal Khambhati

Zomato has onboarded Kunal Khambhati, the former head of live events and intellectual property at BookMyShow, as part of its efforts to enhance its entertainment and ‘going out’ vertical. This move comes as the food-tech giant gears up to launch its new app, District, which will cater to customers looking for restaurant reservations, live performances, sports events, and more.

While Zomato’s management confirmed Khambhati’s inclusion in the team, they have yet to disclose his specific role or designation. However, Khambhati is expected to leverage his extensive experience in live events and intellectual property to contribute to the app’s live entertainment segment.

At BookMyShow, Khambhati led the development of live events and IP for over seven years, managing operations across markets such as India, Indonesia, and Sri Lanka. His departure from the company earlier in April 2024 marks a significant transition to Zomato, where he will work alongside senior executives recently reintroduced into the fold.

In July, Zomato rehired former executives Rahul Ganjoo and Pradyot Ghate, both of whom are now poised to helm the company’s District app launch. This strategic appointment of Khambhati further signals Zomato’s ambition to challenge established players like BookMyShow in the live events space.

Zomato has been hinting at the launch of District since August 2024, positioning it as a one-stop platform for customers to discover and book dining experiences, movie tickets, live performances, and sports events. The company’s recent acquisition of Paytm’s entertainment ticketing business for ₹2,048 crore indicates a broader push into the event space, potentially setting up a direct rivalry with BookMyShow.

In an interview with Moneycontrol, Zomato founder and CEO Deepinder Goyal also hinted at plans to upgrade stadium infrastructure across India to enhance the live event experience. “We’ll have to upgrade stadiums at some point, otherwise the entire experience will not be worthwhile,” Goyal stated, noting that Zomato may partner with stadium operators to propose infrastructure improvements in exchange for rental-free days for hosting events.

With Khambhati’s extensive expertise in live events, Zomato is betting big on its foray into entertainment, positioning District as a formidable contender in the Indian live events and entertainment ticketing market.

Zomato brings onboard Kunal Khambhati, former head of live events and IP at BookMyShow, to boost its upcoming app ‘District’ amidst growing competition in the entertainment ticketing space.

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