Hotel Room Signings in India Up 40% - India Report

The Indian hospitality sector is set to grow at an annual rate of 10.5% over the next three years, according to the latest projections by trading services firm Axis Securities. The growth is expected to be driven by domestic travelers, foreign visitors, and the MICE (meetings, incentives, conferences and exhibitions) segment. 

Indian Gen Z and Millennials prefer to travel in the off-peak season to avoid crowds and reduce costs, according to a report by online visa application platform Atlys.

Despite a strong recovery in 2023, India’s inbound numbers are still not back to pre-pandemic levels. What’s holding it back? Is it infrastructure, global perception, or something else? Catch Asia Editor Peden Doma Bhutia in conversation with Dipak Deva, managing director of Travel Corporation India, the country’s largest inbound travel company, as they dive into the challenges and opportunities shaping the future of inbound tourism.

India’s Tourism and Hospitality Skill Council (THSC) has entered into a three-year partnership with global payments gateway Visa. The agreement is valued at around $1 million, with the aim to skill at least 20,000 youth for tourism-related jobs, according to the ministry of skill development. 

The Air India and Vistara merger has been ongoing for over 20 months and is now in its final phase with an expected completion date of November 12, the airlines announced Friday.  

Did you know: In 2022, the number of domestic tourists who visited Indian pilgrimage sites was more than India’s population – 1.43 billion. 

London is in its global hotel brand era: In the last year, it’s added a Raffles, a Peninsula and a second Mandarin Oriental; a Waldorf Astoria, a St. Regis and a Six Senses are on their way. This new guard is taking over historical icons and throwing up gleaming towers, and it’s upping the ante on amenities, too. A posh afternoon tea is no longer enough, it seems; now, five-stars come with signature scents, subterranean spas, museum-worthy art and long-stay residences. Rooftop bars, a rarity here a decade ago, are now seemingly obligatory (Bar 33 at the Emory wins for views, with everything from Big Ben to Battersea Power Station in its sights). But there’s still room for the occasional independent hotel, like the Broadwick, a maximalist love letter to the owner Noel Hayden’s hotelier parents and the creative Soho of the ’90s in which he came of age. “It’s a bit of a sensory overload,” Hayden says. Naturally, there’s a rooftop bar there, too.

A version of this article originally appeared in Condé Nast Traveller India.

Over 80% of Indians have either had or are planning a destination wedding, a survey conducted by search aggregator Skyscanner showed. This preference is strongest among Gen Z, with about 50% of that group indicating that they are considering a destination wedding. This figure is 33% among Millennials. 

After your last hotel stay, did you stop by the front desk and let reception know you were leaving? If you didn't, you're certainly not alone. In today's digital world, many travelers find the formal checkout process unnecessary.

India’s tourism industry is experiencing a major transformation, fueled by the growing middle class and increasing disposable income. Asia Editor Peden Doma Bhutia and India Reporter Bulbul Dhawan recap this month’s developments, discussing India’s rising influence in global tourism. With the country’s booming economy making headlines, what does this mean for global travel?  

What can India and U.S. do to boost tourism? According to the first Indo-U.S. Tourism and Hospitality Summit held by the Indo-American Chamber of Commerce in Delhi on Friday, the answer is speedier visas and more direct flights.