Hotel rates across Indian leisure destinations are rising as travellers combine Diwali celebrations in their hometowns with short leisure breaks, with average mid-scale accommodation prices increasing 26.94 per cent above pre-festival levels during November 11-15, according to an analysis by Sciative Solutions.The company’s hospitality revenue management platform, ZettaRMS.ai, analysed displayed accommodation rates across 3,114 properties in 13 Indian destinations during the 2026 festive travel period. The findings identify the post-Diwali extended weekend as the strongest pricing window in the festive cycle tracked. Average mid-scale hotel rates increased from INR 9,221 during October 25-31 to INR 10,451 during November 6-10, representing a rise of 13.34 per cent. Rates subsequently reached INR 11,705 during November 11-15, following the main Diwali festival date of November 8.Premium accommodation recorded a similar trend. Average displayed rates rose from INR 25,917 before the festival to INR 28,522 during Diwali and INR 31,163 during the post-festival extended weekend. Prices remained elevated during the second half of November, with mid-scale accommodation averaging INR 11,670 and premium properties approximately INR 32,126. The period coincides with wedding-season activity and winter leisure travel, extending pricing pressure beyond the main festival dates. Destination-level data showed significant differences in displayed accommodation rates. Lonavala recorded the highest overall average among the destinations highlighted, at INR 29,655, followed by Mahabaleshwar at INR 20,324. Goa averaged INR 15,600, while Ooty and Coorg recorded averages of INR 15,805 and INR 14,666, respectively. The difference between accommodation categories was particularly pronounced in some markets. In Lonavala, three- and four-star properties averaged INR 23,018, compared with INR 41,983 for five-star properties. In Goa, five-star accommodation averaged INR 29,891, while mid-scale stays averaged INR 9,251. Northern hill destinations also showed variation in pricing. Mussoorie recorded an average displayed rate of INR 16,296, while Darjeeling’s mid-scale properties averaged INR 6,819, compared with INR 31,050 for five-star accommodation. Pilgrimage destinations recorded comparatively lower overall rates. Haridwar averaged INR 5,449, with mid-scale properties at INR 4,151 and five-star properties at INR 15,743. In Rishikesh, the corresponding category averages were INR 7,504 and INR 24,494. Tirupati averaged INR 4,866, Madurai INR 6,914 and Puri INR 9,253.Vijeta Soni, co-founder and CEO of Sciative Solutions, said travellers were increasingly combining traditional celebrations with short leisure breaks, while the strongest rate pressure was emerging after Diwali. She said demand forecasting, competitor-rate monitoring and dynamic pricing were becoming increasingly important for hotel businesses. The company said ZettaRMS.ai combines demand forecasting, automated pricing recommendations and real-time competitor-rate monitoring to support hotel revenue management.Sciative clarified that the analysis covers displayed accommodation prices and does not establish actual occupancy levels, completed bookings or realised room revenue. The findings therefore indicate pricing patterns during the festive period rather than confirmed growth in hotel stays.
