September 21, 2025

The festive season magic is here! Hotels across India are seeing bookings soar by up to 15 percent during the Navratri-Dussehra period, while room rates are skipping up around 30 percent. Weddings and business events are lighting the fire for strong demand in the third quarter of FY 2026. Nikhil Sharma, managing director & COO of Radisson Hotel Group (South Asia), shares the excitement: "The upcoming festive period around Navratri and Dussehra is shaping up to be a very strong travel season for Radisson Hotel group. We are already seeing a surge in demand across leisure destinations like Pondicherry, Mahabalipuram, Udaipur, Jaipur and Uttarakhand. Occupancy levels are climbing sharply and average room rates are trending nearly 30 per cent higher than regular periods." Not just faraway spots, even drivable destinations are buzzing with last-minute bookings during Navratri. A spokesperson from Sarovar Hotels confirmed, "Festive demand this season is seeing a strong uptick, with room bookings up by 12–15 per cent year-on-year in key drivable destinations like Agra and Jaipur, driven largely by the Dussehra long weekend. We expect that after this peak period, demand will shift more towards F&B experiences rather than room stays." Airlines are joining the party too! More flights to Kolkata, including a fresh route from Kochi, are planned to meet the rush for Durga Puja at the end of September. Sharma adds, "Families and couples continue to lead bookings while groups of friends and extended families are adding to further momentum as we head to Diwali, Christmas and New Year." The hotel sector showed double-digit growth in Q1 FY26, but not everywhere. Cities like Delhi, Chandigarh, and others in North India felt the heat due to geopolitical tensions. Indian Hotels Company Ltd (IHCL) reported a 19 percent year-on-year revenue boost in Q1 FY 2026 but admitted 2-2.5 percent was lost due to booking cancellations and flight disruptions following Operation Sindoor in May. However, IHCL is optimistic: "Despite the base effect of July with five wedding nights last year, overall outlook for Q2 remains robust," said their recent investor presentation. They aim to open 30 new hotels this year, keeping the festive fire burning bright! So, get ready for an exciting travel season filled with colors, celebrations, and booming hotel stays!

Read More at Thehindubusinessline →

Tags: Navratri, Dussehra, Hotel bookings, Festive travel, Wedding season, Ihcl,