Hotels, travel bookings increase as Holi weekend approaches

The Omicron coronavirus wave is also showing signs of easing across India, with more people taking to the streets, benefiting travel and hospitality companies.

Mumbai-based travel agency Thomas Cook has witnessed a three-fold increase in bookings for the Holi weekend for domestic destinations such as Himachal Pradesh, Uttarakhand, Rajasthan, Kashmir, Andaman and Goa. For other companies as well, demand is at an all-time high, and most hill stations are reporting unprecedented occupancy, especially for places like Gulmarg, Srinagar, Shimla, Manali and Nainital.

Daniel D’Souza, SOTC Travel President and Country Head-Holidays, said that with Holi falling on a Friday this year, holiday makers are looking to extend the festivities by taking a holiday either before or after the festival, to make the best use of the extended weekend. Can you , “We are seeing strong demand from Millennials/young professionals, groups of friends, couples and multi-generational families,” said D’Souza, adding that bookings for SOTC this weekend are 1.5x higher than other weekends in March.

Abhishek Logani, chief business officer of hotels at online travel firm MakeMyTrip, said hotel bookings during the Holi weekend are likely to exceed the long last weekend of Christmas and New Year 2021. Bookings are also 50-60% higher than any other weekend. January and February, Logani said. He said there is traction for Kashmir (Srinagar, Gulmarg, Pahalgam, Leh and Ladakh), Goa, Alibaug, Daman and Diu, Digha in West Bengal and Jim Corbett in Uttarakhand.

Company President Vikramjit Singh said Lemon Tree Hotels’ Udaipur and Aurica Hotels & Resorts in Coorg are seeing high demand and should achieve around 80% occupancy for the coming weekend.

“We are also experiencing a large volume of bookings for other holiday destinations, especially in North India, where our resorts in Rishikesh and Manesar are almost sold out,” he said.

Singh said Lemon Tree wants to boost demand for accommodations in its city-based hotels by creating special long-weekend packages for those properties.

Satyajit Krishnan, Area Director, New Delhi, and General Manager, Taj Mahal Hotels, New Delhi, said that Taj properties are seeing a three-fold increase in bookings compared to last year, with over 50% for stays this weekend. more occupancy. “Our food services are also running at full capacity…,” he said.

“The Holi weekend is shaping up to be one of the most popular travel periods this year, the first long weekend since the Omicron wave. Destinations in demand are Dubai, and domestic destinations like Ladakh, Goa and Kerala are also doing well,” said Arun Ashok, regional head, India and Middle East, Australian travel agency Luxury Escape.

He said the average booking time for long weekends is about 25 days, and since many travelers know they’ll be charged exorbitantly if they book last minute for the popular long weekend, they plan in advance. . ,

Indians want to get out of their homes and travel again, and get up to speed on long weekends like Camp Holi with experiences like biking, hiking, white water rafting, parasailing, zip-lining, and outdoor adventure trips. said Rajiv Kale, President and Head of State, Holidays, MICE, Visa- Thomas Cook (India). He said that in jungle safaris and other adventure activities also there is a significant increase in the questions of Ranthambore, Jim Corbett, Bandhavgarh, Kanha and Pench.