With the 75th Republic Day falling on a Friday, the first extended weekend of the year has ignited a travel frenzy across India. Travel operators are reporting a significant surge in demand, with rates at luxury hotels skyrocketing. Most luxury resorts and five-star properties are already fully booked, marking a remarkable recovery for the travel and hospitality sector.
Some travel operators have reported a whopping 25% year-on-year surge in demand for Republic Day weekend getaways. Rates at five-star hotels and luxury resorts have witnessed a substantial increase, reflecting the pent-up demand for travel experiences after a prolonged period of restrictions.
The surge in demand is evident in the sold-out status of many luxury properties across popular destinations. For instance, a two-night stay at the Oberoi Amarvilas in Agra during the Republic Day weekend costs upwards of ₹1.25 lakh, excluding breakfast. Similarly, Taj Fort Aguada in Goa commands a bill of ₹95,000 for a weekend stay. Other leisure resort properties from top hospitality brands like The Leela are also reporting full bookings, with rates touching new highs.
Even properties in destinations that have historically faced challenges, such as Kashmir, are experiencing a surge in demand. The Khyber Himalayan Resort & Spa in Gulmarg, Jammu & Kashmir, has only one family suite left for booking on its website, priced at a whopping ₹2 lakh per night. This surge indicates a growing interest in exploring destinations that were previously considered less accessible.
Luxury hotels and resorts are capitalizing on the demand, with average daily rates witnessing a 5% year-on-year increase. Occupancy levels are at full capacity, mirroring the trend observed during the same period last year. The appeal of destinations like Kashmir is further boosted by the desire for unique travel experiences and the attractiveness of bucket-list destinations.
Major hospitality brands like Marriott International are anticipating a sold-out situation at their popular leisure properties. Rates across the board are expected to be 15-20% higher during the Republic Day weekend. Long weekends are becoming increasingly popular, with travelers seeking opportunities to disconnect and enjoy unique experiences. Marriott’s leisure locations in Coorg, Mahabaleshwar, Sohna, Aravali, Rishikesh, and Goa are expected to be sold out.
Lemon Tree Hotels is also witnessing high occupancies, with properties in Corbett, Rishikesh, and Goa expecting occupancies of 75-80%. The 5-star properties in Udaipur and Coorg, under the Aurika brand, are likely to experience a surge in occupancy during the extended weekend.
The trend extends beyond hotel bookings, impacting other sectors of the travel industry. Villa rentals, for example, are experiencing considerable interest in premium markets like Alibaug, Pawna, Udaipur, and Karjat. SaffronStays, a vacation rentals platform, has noted a 10% increase in rates and similarly high occupancy.
The surge in demand is not limited to accommodations; airfares for popular routes have also seen an increase. Indiver Rastogi, President and Group Head of Global Business Travel at Thomas Cook (India) and SOTC Travel, reported a 15-30% increase in airfares for routes from major metro hubs to destinations like Chandigarh, Srinagar, Jaipur, Dehradun, Goa, Port Blair, Kathmandu, and Colombo. Additionally, airfares to easy- or free-visa destinations, including Pattaya, Kuala Lumpur, Singapore, Bali, Dubai, Abu Dhabi, Hanoi, Hong Kong, and Ras Al-Khaimah, have increased by about 10-15%.
Despite the rise in costs, data indicates a brisk uptick of 25% in overall demand for this long weekend compared to the same period last year. The opening up of highways, expressways like the Atal Setu, and increased train services has made weekend travel even more attractive to Indian aspirational consumers.
As the Republic Day weekend approaches, the travel and hospitality sector is witnessing a remarkable revival, indicating a positive trajectory for the industry in the coming months. The demand for unique travel experiences, coupled with the appeal of extended weekends, suggests a robust recovery for the travel sector in India.