(Analysis of 3,114 properties across 13 Indian destinations finds the sharpest mid-scale hotel rate increase during the post-Diwali extended weekend, with premium hill stations and coastal destinations commanding higher prices.)
TTT NEWS NETWORK
NEW DELHI | 27 OCTOBER 2026
Indians are increasingly combining traditional Diwali celebrations in their hometowns with short leisure getaways, creating a festive travel pattern that blends cultural traditions with extended-weekend holidays. Data from Sciative Solutions’ hospitality revenue management platform, ZettaRMS.ai, points to heightened hotel booking activity across leisure destinations such as Goa, Ooty and Mahabaleshwar, alongside a sharp rise in displayed accommodation rates during the post-Diwali extended weekend.
According to Sciative’s festive pricing analysis, average mid-scale hotel rates rise 26.94% above the pre-Diwali baseline during November 11-15, making the post-Diwali extended weekend the strongest pricing window in the festive cycle tracked. The findings suggest that travel demand extends beyond the main festival dates as travellers return home for traditional celebrations before taking short breaks, adding to pricing pressure during the extended holiday period.
The analysis tracks displayed accommodation rates across five phases of the Diwali holiday cycle, with the main festival falling on November 8, 2026. Average mid-scale rates increase from ₹9,221 during October 25-31 to ₹10,451 during November 6–10, a rise of 13.34%. Rates subsequently reach ₹11,705 during November 11-15. Premium hotel rates follow a similar pattern, rising from a pre-festive average of ₹25,917 to ₹28,522 during Diwali and ₹31,163 during the post-Diwali extended weekend.
Rates remain elevated through the second half of November, with mid-scale accommodation averaging ₹11,670 and premium properties approximately ₹32,126. The period overlaps with wedding-season activity and winter leisure travel, extending the pricing pressure beyond the main festival dates.
The destination-level findings reveal considerable variation in accommodation prices across India’s leisure and spiritual travel markets. Lonavala records an overall average displayed rate of ₹29,655, followed by Mahabaleshwar at ₹20,324, while Goa averages ₹15,600. In Lonavala, three- and four-star properties average ₹23,018, compared with ₹41,983 for five-star properties. In Goa, five-star properties average ₹29,891, while mid-scale stays average ₹9,251. Further south, Ooty records an overall average of ₹15,805 and Coorg ₹14,666. In northern India, Mussoorie averages ₹16,296, while Darjeeling illustrates the gap between accommodation categories, with mid-scale properties averaging ₹6,819 and five-star properties ₹31,050.
Pilgrimage destinations offer comparatively lower overall price points in the analysis, although accommodation category continues to influence the cost of a stay. Haridwar records an overall average displayed rate of ₹5,449, with mid-scale properties averaging ₹4,151 and five-star properties ₹15,743. In Rishikesh, mid-scale and five-star properties average ₹7,504 and ₹24,494, respectively. Tirupati records an overall average of ₹4,866, compared with ₹6,914 in Madurai, while coastal and religious destination Puri averages ₹9,253. Together, the findings highlight the range of accommodation prices across India, from premium leisure markets to pilgrimage centres, as travellers plan their festive holidays around different budgets and travel preferences.
Vijeta Soni, Co-Founder & CEO, Sciative Solutions, said, “India’s festive travel calendar is increasingly spread across multiple windows, with travellers combining traditional celebrations in their hometowns with short leisure getaways. Our observations across destinations such as Goa, Ooty and Mahabaleshwar point to growing demand for these quick festive breaks, while the pricing data shows that the strongest rate pressure emerges after Diwali. For hotel businesses, this makes timely demand forecasting, competitive rate monitoring and dynamic pricing increasingly important. Through ZettaRMS.ai, we aim to equip hospitality businesses with the pricing intelligence and AI-led capabilities needed to make faster, more informed revenue management decisions.”
ZettaRMS.ai combines intraday demand forecasting, automated pricing recommendations and real-time competitor rate monitoring to support faster pricing decisions across hotel operations. The platform is ISO 27001:2022 and SOC 2 Type II certified and is used by hotel brands in India and international markets.
Sciative Solutions applies its expertise in pricing intelligence and artificial intelligence to develop ZettaRMS.ai as a global hospitality revenue management platform, combining technology capabilities and pricing expertise to support hotel businesses across markets.
The analysis is based on displayed accommodation rates observed across 3,114 properties in 13 Indian destinations. The figures represent listed prices and should not be interpreted as confirmed occupancy levels, completed bookings or realised room revenue. Booking activity observations refer to demand patterns identified through ZettaRMS.ai and do not represent a disclosed booking volume unless otherwise specified.
About Sciative Solutions:
Sciative Solutions is an AI-powered pricing and revenue management company founded in 2015 by Dr. Anshu Jalora and Vijeta Soni. Its hospitality platform, ZettaRMS.ai, provides AI-powered demand forecasting, competitive intelligence and revenue optimisation solutions for hotels. Sciative has been profitable since inception and is backed by Turbostart Venture Capital.
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