India is preparing to take the global stage as it gets ready to host the prestigious G20 Summit from September 9 to 10 in its capital city, New Delhi. The summit, under India’s Presidency, will witness the convergence of world leaders, shaping a collective response to global challenges. As the nation’s capital readies itself to welcome these international dignitaries, the city’s top hotels have been reserved to provide accommodation to the attending delegates.
The magnitude of the event has spurred a significant surge in demand for luxury accommodations, leading to fully booked hotels and a rise in room rates. The Ministry of External Affairs, foreseeing the influx of foreign delegates, has proactively secured room bookings at various premier hotels across the city.
“Consequently, visitors travelling to Delhi-NCR in the first week of September should anticipate an approximate 20% increase in room rates at top-tier establishments.“
Typically, August and September register lower occupancy rates in the hospitality sector, but this year’s G20 Summit has disrupted that trend. With the Ministry of External Affairs blocking a substantial number of rooms, an occupancy rate of 70-80% is projected for the summit days. This surge in occupancy has paved the way for dynamic pricing strategies, where room tariffs are adjusted in response to demand. Compared to the same period in the previous year, a notable 15-20% markup in charges is expected due to the summit.
Leading online hotel booking platform Booking.com reports that premier hotels like the Holiday Inn in Gurugram are listing room rates exceeding ₹50,000 per night (inclusive of taxes) between September 7 and 12 for standard rooms. Similarly, Sandal Suites by Lemon Tree Hotels in Noida is charging up to ₹30,000 per night (with taxes) for a standard room in the first week of September.
To accommodate the VVIP delegates attending the G20 Summit, around 3,500 hotel rooms have been reserved in both large and small hotels in Delhi and Gurugram. More than 10,000 hospitality professionals have been mobilized to cater to the needs of the delegates across 30 prominent hotels in central and south Delhi, Aerocity, and Gurugram.
The summit’s significance is reflected in the allocation of luxury hotels to host different delegations. Notably, United States President Joe Biden will be staying at ITC Maurya, while Chinese President Xi Jinping will be accommodated at Taj Palace. Other prestigious hotels, including Shangri La’s Eros and The Imperial, will host prominent leaders such as UK Prime Minister Rishi Sunak, German delegates, Australian Prime Minister, and Indonesian delegates, respectively. The UAE delegation will be housed at the Taj Mahal Hotel, and Saudi Arabian delegates will find accommodations at Leela Palace.
In addition to reshaping the city’s hospitality landscape, the G20 Summit is expected to influence travel patterns among the general public. The closure of schools and businesses has catalyzed a surge in demand for short getaways. According to travel company Thomas Cook’s analysis, there has been a 30-40% increase in demand for drivable destinations. Many OTAs’ have also observed a heightened interest in lodging options in cities like Jaipur, Udaipur, Varanasi, Agra, and Amritsar.
As India welcomes world leaders to the G20 Summit, it not only reinforces its position on the global stage but also triggers significant economic and social ripples in the host city and beyond.