Industry Odisha Bureau, Sep 09: India’s festive travel season is starting earlier this year. Hotel bookings and room rates are already climbing accordingly. Hoteliers expect stronger occupancy and revenue through the season. Travel companies describe the shift as broad-based, not universal.
Radisson Hotel Group reported bookings running ahead of last year. Its leisure hotel bookings are about 10-15% higher currently. Demand around the Gandhi Jayanti weekend has been strong. Dussehra and Diwali bookings typically accelerate closer to those dates. The company operates hotels across several Indian cities.
Many travellers are combining festivals, school holidays and paid leave. That combination is encouraging longer 5-9 day itineraries. These trips span both domestic and international destinations. Travel companies say the pattern is becoming more common.
Hoteliers say travellers are spending more on stays. Popular areas include family experiences, wellness and local cuisine. Resort activities and dining are also drawing more spending. These categories signal a shift toward experience-led travel.
Radisson said high-demand leisure hotel rates are also higher. Rates are tracking roughly 8-10% above last year’s levels. Peak dates could see even sharper rate increases. The company attributed the gains to strong festive demand.
The HVS Anarock Monitor tracked broader hotel sector performance. Average room rates stood at ₹10,000 to ₹10,200 recently. Occupancy was recorded between 67% and 69% for the quarter. That data covered FY26’s first quarter, not the festive season. The benchmark offers useful context, not a festive forecast.
RevPAR measures revenue generated per available hotel room. It combines both pricing and occupancy performance together. RevPAR during that quarter ranged between ₹6,700 and ₹7,038. Stronger occupancy and rates together can lift hotel revenue.
EaseMyTrip reported search volumes rising sharply month-on-month. Searches increased by roughly 40-45% during that period. That reflects earlier planning, not confirmed bookings yet. The company said this suggests earlier festive planning overall.
Festive demand extends across Dussehra, Diwali and Chhath. Wedding-season travel also spans October through December. EaseMyTrip expects steady demand across leisure and family-visit travel. This period historically drives significant travel and hospitality demand.
Yatra Online reported stronger domestic travel intent broadly. Interest is notable on routes linking metros with smaller markets. These include tier 2 and tier 3 city destinations. Family visits often add to this domestic travel movement.
Package prices have stayed broadly similar to last year. Airfares, hotel costs and peak inventory shape those prices. That keeps packages steady even as room rates rise. Inventory during peak dates remains comparatively limited nonetheless.
Earlier planning and longer stays are reshaping festive travel. Firmer room rates meet limited inventory during peak dates. That tension will likely define hotel performance this season. Hotels are betting on that combination through year-end.
