Micro-Holidays Drive Hotel Booking Spikes for Independence Day Long Weekend

As India’s Independence Day long weekend approaches on August 15, travelers are making the most of the mid-week break by booking short getaways.

According to Booking.com, searches for accommodations near weekend hotspots around major metros like Mumbai and Delhi are up between 40% and 80% compared to the same period last year.

“As Indian travellers plan for the Independence Day long weekend, we are seeing a shift toward more spontaneous, short-haul travel, both within the country and across the APAC region,” said Santosh Kumar, regional manager, South Asia at Booking.com.

Booking Surges: Travel tech company RateGain echoed the surge, reporting a 41% increase in hotel bookings for the weekend. Standout markets include Udaipur, which saw a 6,860% year-on-year rise in bookings, and Candolim in Goa, which posted a 1,700% surge, according to RateGain data.

“Reports and trends indicate a rise in both occupancy and room rates over the long Independence Day weekend,” said KB Kachru, president of the Hotel Association of India and chairman, South Asia at Radisson Hotel Group. “Some properties are witnessing up to a 40% surge in bookings compared to last year, with average daily rates expected to be 10–15% higher year-on-year.”

StayVista, a luxury villa rental platform, reported that its portfolio has sold out for the weekend.

For Sarovar Hotels, occupancy levels are 8–10% higher year-over-year. “Leisure destinations like Goa, Agra, Dalhousie, Udaipur, and Jaipur are seeing especially high demand, particularly from families and group travelers,” said Akshay Thusoo, senior vice president – Commercial at Sarovar Hotels.

Where are They Headed? Online travel platform MakeMyTrip listed Goa, Udaipur, Jaipur, Puri, and Lonavala as the most trending domestic destinations for the micro-travel boom. On the international side, Pattaya, Bali, Bangkok, Singapore, and Dubai are leading the charts.

Booking.com highlighted similar interest, with Bangkok, Phuket, and Pattaya seeing travel interest rise by over 60%.

“What is noteworthy is the sustained trend of Indians taking multiple holidays to short-haul and visa-free or easy visa destinations such as UAE, Thailand, Vietnam, Singapore, Malaysia, Indonesia, Oman, and Kazakhstan,” said Rajeev Kale, president and country head – Holidays, MICE, Visa at Thomas Cook India.

SD Nandakumar, president of SOTC Travel, noted that within India, Kashmir, Kerala, Ladakh, Goa, and the Andaman Islands are seeing the highest demand. In the subcontinent, Sri Lanka and Nepal are emerging as favorites.

“We’re seeing a sharp uptick in flight bookings. Travel to popular leisure destinations is up by 25–30% year-on-year,” said Rajnish Kumar, group co-CEO at Ixigo. “Goa, in particular, has seen a surge in demand for beach getaways, pushing airfares to Goa from Delhi and Mumbai up by over 100% week-on-week.” He added that destinations such as Dehradun, Kannur, Udaipur, and Coimbatore are also seeing strong momentum, with fares rising 10-15% year-on-year on average during the holiday weekend.

Changing Preferences: Travel patterns are evolving beyond just destinations. Cruise holidays are gaining ground among Indian travelers, particularly for extended weekends.

Sarovar’s Thusoo also noted a sharp rise in Tier-2 city travel and drive-in destinations. “The rise in multi-generational travel, longer booking windows, and advance planning around public holidays reflect a stable and evolving travel sentiment across the country,” he said.

SOTC Travel’s Nandakumar highlighted a growing interest in experiences over traditional vacations. “There’s a rising preference for unique experiences—from wildlife safaris and wellness retreats to adventure getaways including biking expeditions, hiking trails, rafting, and waterfall rappelling,” he said.

Prestige Hospitality Gets IPO Nod

Hotel developer Prestige Hospitality Ventures has received stock market regulator SEBI’s nod for its IPO. The IPO consists of a fresh issue of up to INR 17 billion ($194 million) and an offer for sale of up to INR 10 billion ($114 million). 

The company is planning to use its IPO proceeds towards debt reduction and to pursue inorganic growth through acquisitions and “other strategic initiatives.”

The company had filed its Draft Red Herring Prospectus (DRHP) in April this year. Prestige Hospitality Ventures focuses on owning and developing high-end hotels and resorts in India. Rather than operate the hotels directly, the company’s strategy is “asset ownership.” It outsources day‐to‐day management to global operators under long‐term service agreements, typically 20 to 35 years in length, with renewal options. 

As of December 31, 2024, Prestige’s asset portfolio comprised seven operating hotels totaling 1,445 keys, one of which is currently being renovated and rebranded from 178 to 190 keys. It also has three hospitality assets under construction with 950 expected keys. 

Jurgen Westermeier Named Airbus India and South Asia Head

Aircraft maker Airbus has named Jürgen Westermeier as the President and Managing Director for India and South Asia. The appointment will come into effect on September 1 and Westermeier will replace Rémi Maillard.

Westermeier currently serves as the executive vice president and chief procurement officer at Airbus. Maillard, meanwhile, will take over as executive vice president engineering for commercial aircraft and head of technology at Airbus.

Westermeier will be tasked with spearheading Airbus’ business in India and South Asia, across commercial aircraft, defence and space, and helicopter verticals. He will also be responsible for commercial aircraft sales and for expanding the company’s footprint in the region.

ITC Signs Second Fortune Property in Lucknow

ITC Hotels Limited is strengthening its foothold in Uttar Pradesh with the signing of its second Fortune-branded property in Lucknow. The 93-key hotel is expected to open in 2026, and aims to cater to the city’s growing demand from business travel, MICE, pilgrimage tourism, and weddings.

Anil Chadha, managing director of ITC Hotels, said Lucknow’s “infrastructural growth, flourishing corporate sector, and cultural richness” make it a key market.

This signing brings ITC Hotels’ presence in Uttar Pradesh to seven operational properties, with six more in the pipeline, including a Fortune hotel in Ayodhya. The group currently operates Fortune Park BBD in Lucknow alongside properties in Aligarh, Ghaziabad, and Noida.

India Tourism Is Working With Influencers

The Indian tourism ministry said it is working with social media influencers through collaborations and through public engagement initiatives to promote tourism destinations. It added the government is also actively promoting the country’s tourism destinations, products and various activities through its official social media platforms.

This comes as inbound tourism to India continues to lag. In 2019, India received approximately 10.5 million foreign visitors. But post-Covid, they’ve only reached around 9.5 million.

Speaking at the Skift India Forum in March this year, Dipak Deva, managing director and CEO of Travel Corporation India, stressed the urgent need for a well-funded social media campaign that focuses on sustainability and immersive experiences. “The success of the campaign would be measured through foreign exchange earnings and not foreign tourist arrivals,” Deva said.

Noida International Airport Partners With Rapido

Noida International Airport has partnered with ridesharing platform Rapido to improve last-mile connectivity. “This strategic collaboration aims to provide passengers with seamless, efficient, and diverse last-mile mobility solutions directly from the airport premises,” the organizations said in a joint statement. 

As part of this collaboration, Rapido will have dedicated pick-up zones within the airport along with on-ground assistance and clear way-finding guides. Rapido driver partners will also have designated parking spaces. 

“As we gear up to welcome passengers, ensuring a smooth and stress-free journey beyond the terminal is essential to the overall travel experience we’re building at Noida International Airport,” said Christoph Schnellmann, CEO, Noida International Airport in a statement.