People are beings of evolution. Travel trends are reflective of this evolution, and hospitality brands need to think ahead to stay relevant and cater to this ever changing yet constant market. We see four key trends play out in 2023:
1. Travellers will pick small, ultra-immersive experiential hotels over large hotels where they are just another room number: At The Postcard, we have seen this trend accelerate over the past few years and believe that this year will see a significant upward trajectory. It was evident in our occupancies of the third quarter which saw a hundred percent increase from the previous year, especially in Goa, where luxury consumers chose The Postcard Hotel over other existing larger inventory hotels.
2. Heading to new, unexplored destinations: The pandemic led domestic leisure travellers to rediscover and appreciate India like never before. Our enthusiasm to unveil beautiful destinations across the country, while also providing a wholesome luxury experience, led us to the riches and beauty of coastal Karnataka. Our newest hotel, The Postcard on the Arabian Sea, is perfectly positioned just off the scenic Maravanthe coast – which previously catered only to budget travellers, that too with limited hotels. Being brand new in this previously undiscovered stretch, our occupancy levels in the first month of operations has been overwhelming with an average ADR at INR 45,000 as compared to INR 3,000 that this destination was previously commanding. The hotel opened to a sold out Christmas Eve and New Year celebration period, resonating with the trend that if resorts come up in great, undiscovered destinations, travellers will follow.
3. Exploring North-Eastern India in a significant way: While people will continue to travel internationally, as was the case in 2022, they will also seek local and meaningful experiences within our country. North-east India is going to be one such region. India’s North-east holds myriad attractions for travellers, with each state having its own distinct identity and possibilities for tourism development. Opening doors this summer, we are extremely excited for our first hotel in the North-east, The Postcard in the Durrung Tea Estate, set amidst 1,400 acres of lush tea gardens in Assam. A constant feedback from our guests is the lack of luxury hotels in this region and their desire to explore it. The Postcard will continue to open India’s North-east for luxury travellers over the next couple of years.
4. Wildlife tourism: With Africa and India being practically the only destinations in the world to enjoy safaris, wildlife tourism in India will only thrive as infrastructure access and awareness grows. In fact, a lot of our guests claimed that they witnessed a lot more lions on a safari in Gir, Gujarat than they did in Africa. Africa has done an incredible job with their wildlife circuit and we see a great potential in India as well. The Postcard will soon be adding luxury resorts in Ranthambore and Kanha as well.
