Delhi Luxury Hotels Face Severe Room Shortage Ahead of BRICS Summit
Luxury hotels across New Delhi are grappling with a severe room crunch and skyrocketing nightly tariffs ahead of the BRICS Summit scheduled to take place on September 12 and 13. High-profile delegations and international visitors arriving for the summit have driven several marquee properties to sell out completely or sharply raise prices for the dates surrounding the event.
Several prominent luxury hotels in the capital have registered zero availability during the summit period. The Taj Mahal and The Oberoi, New Delhi, have reported no rooms available for September 11 and 12. Taj Palace, New Delhi, is fully booked with zero availability from September 10 to 12, while The Leela Palace, New Delhi, is not accepting any bookings across the same three-day window. At ITC Maurya, New Delhi, starting rates for accommodations between September 10 and 13 have climbed past ₹2.3 lakh per night. Hotel tariffs and inventory remain dynamic and continue to fluctuate based on bookings and cancellations.
Industry leaders noted that the summit has placed significant pressure on the region's existing room capacity. K B Kachru, President of the Hotel Association of India and Chairman - South Asia at Radisson Hotel Group, stated that India's hospitality infrastructure has not kept pace with its tourism ambitions. Kachru pointed out that India currently has only about 200,000 to 220,000 branded hotel rooms, adding that the spotlight of the summit is exposing the gap between national capacity and major event demands.
The surge in demand has also extended into the wider National Capital Region, including along the Dwarka Expressway. Rahool Macarius, Market Managing Director, Eurasia, for Wyndham Hotels & Resorts, stated that the summit is driving a distinct dynamic across Delhi and the NCR. He noted that at the Ramada Encore by Wyndham on Dwarka Expressway, occupancy for September 12 to 15 is tracking at 65 per cent, running significantly ahead of broader market levels.
Other properties across the capital are preparing for foreign contingents. Vishal Sharma, General Manager of The LaLiT New Delhi, confirmed that delegations and representatives from countries including South Africa, Burundi, and the UAE are scheduled to stay at the property during the summit period.
Nikhil Sharma, Managing Director and COO, South Asia, at Radisson Hotel Group, reported that average room rates across their portfolio are pacing more than 25 per cent higher year-on-year for September. He noted that shorter booking windows are supporting rate growth and expected demand to remain robust as travellers continue booking closer to the summit dates.
