Delhi’s hospitality sector is gearing up for a sharp surge in demand ahead of the Brics Summit, with five-star hotel searches rising 50 per cent and room rates at some properties more than doubling week-on-week. Hotels for 12-13 September, the peak summit dates, are now quoting around Rs 1 lakh to as much as Rs 2.4 lakh a night, according to data from travel platforms and hotel operators.

The surge extends beyond official delegates, with business travellers, international media and other summit-linked visitors adding to hotel demand. The trend mirrors the spike in Delhi’s hospitality activity witnessed during the AI Summit in February, while the concentrated influx of visitors is also driving demand for air travel, according to a report by Business World.

Luxury Hotels See Sharpest Rise

Cleartrip data cited by media reports show hotel bookings in Delhi rising 25 per cent year-on-year around the Brics Summit weekend. Budget hotels recorded the strongest increase in booking volumes, up 138 per cent, while premium properties saw bookings rise 25 per cent.

Luxury hotels, however, are seeing a more pronounced increase in prices than in booking volumes. Rates at luxury properties have risen 59 per cent year-on-year, while four-star hotel rates have increased 113 per cent and five-star rates are up 53 per cent.

The divergence suggests that limited availability at the upper end is translating into a substantial pricing premium. While demand remains selective for luxury properties, the concentration of visitors around the summit dates is allowing hotels to command significantly higher room rates.

International, Domestic Demand Converges

The demand is coming from both international and domestic markets. Ho Chi Minh City, Kathmandu, London, Bangkok, Hanoi and Kazakhstan are among the key international origin markets, while Bengaluru, Mumbai, Pune, Hyderabad, Chennai and Leh are major domestic sources.

The summit is also generating demand beyond the immediate event window. Around 39 per cent of international return bookings are scheduled for after 14 September, while the corresponding share among domestic travellers is 49 per cent, according to Cleartrip.

The extended stays indicate that a significant portion of visitors could be using the summit as an opportunity to spend additional time in Delhi. Business travellers, international media and other event-linked visitors are contributing to this broader demand.

The increase in hotel demand is part of a wider economic effect from an event of this scale. Higher visitor numbers can translate into additional demand for flights, ground transportation, restaurants and other services across the tourism ecosystem.

For Delhi’s hospitality industry, the summit therefore represents more than a short-term occupancy boost. The combination of higher room rates, international arrivals and extended stays also highlights the city’s role as a hub for international business and high-value travel.