Year-End Quotes: Industry Experts Share Insights for 2025

"While the first half of the financial year may reflect a 'muted' growth period in the hotel sector, the Ind-Ra report reaffirms our confidence in the sector's underlying strength. We believe the projected 5% to 8% RevPAR growth for the full FY26 is highly achievable, driven by a strong rebound in demand and firm pricing power in the latter half of the year. This trajectory solidifies the Indian hotel industry's position as a robust growth story, which can be attributed to the rising middle-class spending and improved connectivity for both domestic leisure and business travel. Additionally, Foreign Tourist Arrivals (FTA) are showing recovery, though uneven, post-pandemic. MICE tourism (Conferences and exhibitions) is also fast becoming a major growth engine, particularly in Tier-1 and Tier-2 cities and hotels are actively driving upscaling and renovating, investing in premium experiences, which is expected to push Average Room Rates (ARRs) even higher."

"At Brigade Hotel Ventures Limited (BHVL) however, we have significantly outperformed the market in the first half of the fiscal year (H1FY26), registering a 13% Revenue Per Available Room (RevPAR) growth on a same-store basis, compared to the overall market's 8%. This strong performance is supported by the strategic location of our properties in key business centers, where the lack of immediate new room supply provides us with a distinct advantage in maximizing Average Daily Rate (ADR) yield. Furthermore, our newly opened properties the Ibis Styles in Mysore and the Grand Mercure in GIFT City are rapidly expanding both in occupancy and ADR. Given that the second half of the year (H2) historically delivers better performance due to the kickoff of large MICE (Meetings, Incentives, Conferences, and Exhibitions) events, we are confident in sustaining our current RevPAR growth momentum throughout the year."

Rama Mahendru

“This year’s World Environment Day theme, “Ending Plastic Pollution,” deeply resonates with our long-standing values at Intrepid Travel. As a certified B Corporation, we are committed to reducing our environmental footprint through practical, on-the-ground actions.

In India, we’ve been saying no to plastic for over 18 years by providing every arriving customer with a reusable tote bag, encouraging them to avoid single-use plastic during their journey. More recently, we launched a pilot initiative with 10 hotel partners, distributing glass water bottles to replace plastic bottles for our groups—an important step toward eliminating plastic waste in our supply chain.

Across our global operations, we actively discourage the use of plastic items such as bottles and bags, and we educate our travelers on the environmental impact of plastic pollution. In regions where plastic use remains prevalent, like India, we place special emphasis on awareness and behavior change—working closely with our teams, suppliers, and even travelers to inspire more responsible choices.

At Intrepid, we believe that small, consistent actions lead to big change. We’re proud to be part of the solution and remain committed to playing our role in ending plastic pollution.”

Amit Raman

"For India's hospitality industry, 2025 has been a pivotalyear, a time of renewed effort, resilience and innovation. With the reduction in GST rates and the rise in domestic travel, growing infrastructure and the emergence of Tier 2 and Tier 3 destinations, these factors have contributed to the industry's record rate of occupancy and consistent revenue growth. In addition, there is a significant shift towards workforce development, digital transformation and sustainable practices, all of which point to a more responsible  and future-ready stage of growth.

As we enter 2026, adapting to the changing desires of modern India will be the main focus, such as purposeful innovation, utilising technology, enhancing service quality and developing experience-led hospitality. Commitment to our customers is the key and meeting service excellence which meets international standards is theendgoal. The hospitality sector should provide the same amount of dedication and comfort to a customer which is provided by a homestay, as there has been a growing trend in preferences for homestay experiences. This is a challenge which we as an industry need to overcome together and provide the best of both worlds to our customers."

Jose Ramapuram

Executive Director Marketing, Evolve Back Resorts

“2025 has confirmed what we have sensed for a while now; luxury travel in India is maturing, and fast. We are seeing a hospitality sector that is growing in double digits, with occupancies, rates, and RevPAR all firmly ahead of last year, and luxury experiences have been a contributor to this growth. But the more important shift is qualitative. 

Domestic guests are choosing shorter, more frequent breaks closer to home, and they are no longer satisfied with simply ‘seeing’ a destination; they want to inhabit it. The stay itself has become the hero, and decisions are being driven by the promise of immersion, storytelling, and a sense of place rather than by star ratings alone.

At the same time, our guests are asking sharper questions about how we operate. Sustainability, once a differentiator, has quietly become a baseline expectation ranging from how we use water and energy to how we treat landscapes and local communities. From discovery, personalisation, to seamless service, technology, too, is now woven into the experience without taking away from the warmth and human connection that define true luxury.

As we look to 2026, the opportunity for Indian luxury hospitality lies in holding these threads together -  harnessing growth in domestic travel and new destinations, embracing digital tools intelligently, and deepening our commitment to environmental and cultural stewardship. If we can continue to create places where guests feel both cared for and connected to nature, to local culture, and to themselves, I believe the coming years will be among the most exciting decades our industry has seen.”

Chris McFall

Vice President – Sales, Shangri-La Group

“International travel has evolved into one of the most defining cultural experiences of modern life. Families today are crafting thoughtful bucket lists, seeking destinations that offer exceptional service, meaningful stays, and culinary journeys that become part of their shared memories. This shift is reshaping global hospitality, where experience-rich, emotionally resonant travel has become a central demand pillar. 

In 2025 alone, we at Shangri-La welcomed international guests who chose us for celebration travel, wellness journeys, and multi-generational vacations. Their expectations are clear: they want authenticity, comfort, and connection, all delivered with the sophistication of contemporary luxury. 

AI is also transforming this landscape. It allows travellers to plan with greater precision, and it enables hotels to forecast intelligently, personalise seamlessly, and price responsibly. 

As we look to 2026, Shangri-La is preparing to welcome a new era of purposeful travel, elevating cultural immersion, culinary storytelling, family-centric design, and AI-assisted personalisation,  while ensuring that the heart of Asian hospitality remains our defining signature.” 

“In today’s hyper-connected world, the boundary between work and leisure is no longer a straight line; it’s a gradient. ‘Bleisure’ travel — where professionals extend business trips for personal time has moved from niche behaviour to mainstream. A 2025 analysis of the global bleisure market estimates it at USD 692.7 billion in 2024, with projections of USD 4.17 trillion by 2035 at an annual growth rate of 17.8%, underscoring how quickly this segment is scaling. 

On the demand side, 54% of business travellers took at least two blended trips in 2024, and more than half use that extra time to explore the destination, while nearly 40% dedicate it to personal hobbies or wellbeing. Global travel data also shows the average length of international hotel stays is about 12% higher in 2024 than in 2019 — reflecting a clear tilt towards longer, richer itineraries. 

For Shangri-La across MEIA and India outbound markets, this trend is translating into high-intent guests who want one itinerary to do it all — close deals, host teams, and then recharge with family or partners. As forecasts point to double-digit bleisure growth through 2035, our focus for 2026 and beyond is to design stays that are boardroom-smart and resort-serene in the same breath: seamless connectivity, sophisticated meeting spaces, restorative wellness, and destination dining that makes staying on an extra two nights feel not just desirable, but inevitable.” 

Yashwini Naik

Account Director - Global Sales, Shangri-La Group

Couples today are moving beyond the conventional, choosing global destinations that offer exotic beauty, fresh perspective and the soulful spirit of Indian wedding festivities, paired with seamless planning, privacy in a bridal suite, and bespoke culinary experiences. Pre-wedding wine tastings, bridal-spa rituals, yoga by the sea, local-art workshops, even wildlife safaris, each moment adds richness and meaning to the celebration. In a world where travel brings us together and traditions keep us grounded, destination weddings deliver the best of both for couples and loved ones.

What makes this moment powerful? The global destination-wedding market grew sharply from USD 36.2 billion in 2024 to USD 47.7 billion in 2025, a 31.7 percent rise, reflecting surging demand for experiential, luxury weddings. In India, the destination-wedding market was estimated at USD 16.25 billion in 2024 and is projected to climb to USD 55.4 billion by 2033, underscoring huge growth potential.

At Shangri-La, we are proud to lead this transformation, delivering meticulously curated weddings under our Bandhan by Shangri-La experience: where every detail resonates with emotional luxury, cultural roots and world-class hospitality. This year, we have successfully hosted destination weddings under Bandhan by Shangri-La.

As we step into 2026, destination weddings will increasingly evolve into multi-day, heritage-rich travel journeys, celebrations that honour tradition while embracing the elegance, privacy and personalisation that today’s discerning couples seek.

Neil James

General Manager, Sheraton Grand Palace Indore

The hospitality industry is moving into 2026 with increased confidence, inspired by changing guest expectations and a larger desire toward more meaningful, experience-based travel. Guests today seek more than just a place to stay; they value personalized service, consistency, and experiences that feel authentic and well thought out. This shift has encouraged hotels to focus not only on comfort and design but also on creating memorable moments that build emotional connections.

Technology will continue to enable this evolution by facilitating smoother operations, greater personalization, and more seamless guest journeys. However, the true differentiator remains the people. Investing in team development, service culture, and leadership will be critical for delivering genuine hospitality and long-term guest loyalty.

Sustainability has also moved from being an initiative to a responsibility. Guests are increasingly conscious of how hotels operate, right from resource management to community engagement. At the same time, destination-led travel is gaining momentum, with travellers keen to explore local culture, cuisine, and experiences.

Looking to the future, adaptability, authenticity, and a guest-first approach will be what assures continued growth for the industry. It is those hotels that balance innovation with warmth, remaining true to the foundational vision of service excellence that continue to earn trust in an increasingly competitive landscape

Akash Roy Saigal

General Manager, Karma Lakelands

“2025 has been a defining year for hospitality, with travellers increasingly prioritising sustainability, wellness, and meaningful experiences over traditional luxury. We saw a clear rise in eco-conscious choices, from preferring greener destinations to expecting transparency around energy, waste, and water practices. As corporate retreats, weddings, and leisure travel rebounded, guests gravitated toward properties that integrate nature, community, and responsible operations at their core. This shift will only accelerate in 2026, with sustainability becoming a standard expectation rather than a differentiator. Technology-led personalisation, regenerative tourism, and mindful consumption will continue shaping the sector, as guests seek purposeful design, slower itineraries, and spaces that help them disconnect while staying aligned with their environmental values. At Karma Lakelands, these trends echo our philosophy of sustainable luxury. This year, we strengthened zero-plastic efforts, organic farming, biodiversity initiatives, and nature-led guest experiences, and in 2026 we aim to expand wellness, farm-to-table programmes, and eco-driven offerings for modern travellers."

Sameer Mahandru,

For the last few years, the alcohol conversation has been stuck at the extreme, either everything is racing towards premiumisation, or an entire generation is supposedly giving up alcohol. What 2025 made clear to us is that the truth in India is somewhere in between. Consumption didn’t slow down; it simply changed shape.

One of the biggest shifts we saw was in drinking occasions. Especially in urban markets, consumption moved away from big, planned nights out to smaller, more frequent, and more informal moments. That change had a direct impact on discovery. Bars and on-trade still matter, but retail and convenience channels started playing a much bigger role, particularly for first trials. When people are making faster decisions at the shelf, formats that are easy to understand and consistent like ready-to-drink being the clearest example.

Younger consumers were a big part of this evolution. Despite all the noise around a ‘sober generation’, drinking Gen Z engagement actually grew. They were more open to experimenting across categories, flavours and formats, and that experimentation added depth to the market rather than shrinking it.

We also saw Indian spirits come into their own. Local brands have always driven volume, but 2025 felt like a tipping point for premium Indian expressions. Better quality, clearer stories and growing confidence meant that premium was no longer automatically equated with imported.

Looking back, 2025 wasn’t about disruption or dramatic shifts. It was about alignment. Drinking patterns started to reflect how Indians actually live, shop and socialise today. For those of us building brands, the lesson was simple: stop chasing trends on slides and start responding to real behaviour on the ground.

Shoaib Ali

“2025 has been a defining year for India’s hospitality sector. Hotels have moved beyond recovery into a phase of sustainable growth, driven by robust domestic travel, a steady rise in international arrivals, and increasing demand for personalized guest experiences. Technology has played a pivotal role in this transformation. From smarter distribution strategies and dynamic pricing to seamless integrations that enable hoteliers operate more efficiently and profitably. As the industry becomes more competitive, hotels are recognizing the importance of agile, data-led decision-making to maximize visibility and drive revenue across channels. At STAAH, we believe this shift towards tech-enabled hospitality will continue to accelerate, empowering independent hotels and chains alike to scale sustainably and deliver exceptional experiences for years to come.”

Tushar Nagar,

General Manager, Hyatt Place Butwal

"As we wrap up 2025 on a high note, we at Hyatt Place Butwal - The Place Between, are overwhelmed by the phenomenal response we’ve received in just two months since opening. Guests have shown immense love for our location—where nature, spiritual trails, and adventure come together. Butwal, with its proximity to sacred sites, natural beauty, and emerging leisure offerings, is perfectly placed to cater to evolving travel preferences. Being just a short and seamless journey from India, Hyatt Place Butwal is eager to welcome Indian travellers looking for a refreshing getaway. We look forward to becoming a preferred stop for Indian guests seeking both comfort and meaningful experiences."

Tejus Jose,