Chances are, you checked the photographs, zoomed into the bathroom, read reviews, looked at breakfast, checked the location on Google Maps and possibly spent an unreasonable amount of time deciding if that infinity pool actually looked as good as it did on Instagram. Somewhere along the way, the star rating became just one part of the decision. And that may be one of the more interesting shifts happening in Indian travel right now.
Because it had five stars, when was the last time you booked a hotel simply.
“The term ‘luxury’ is worn out, overused and diluted. He points to pricing, brand perception and peer reviews as increasingly important factors influencing where people stay. Basically, the hotel cannot rely on a grand lobby to do all the talking anymore. That last bit feels particularly relevant. Indian holidays have traditionally had a habit of becoming extremely enthusiastic itineraries. Breakfast at eight, sightseeing at nine, lunch at one, another attraction at three and dinner somewhere you absolutely must try at eight. Interestingly, expectations are rising at the value end too. Travellers may happily skip the fancy extras, but cleanliness, safety, comfort, reliable WiFi, good food and efficient service are becoming difficult to compromise on. Singh puts it simply: value no longer automatically means the lowest price. It means feeling that what you received justified what you paid. Yet all three hospitality leaders circle back to something decidedly human: feeling recognised, having your time respected and coming home with something more memorable than a photograph of the hotel lobby. Here’s what to know about the Grand Train Tour
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Traditional star ratings no longer guide modern travel decisions,” says Burkhard Wolter of Six Senses Fort Barwara. Roop Partap Choudhary, Executive Director at Noor Mahal, Delhi NCR Karnal by Marriott International, says the meaning of “the best” itself is changing. “For many travellers, having a seamless experience, avoiding unnecessary friction and being able to slow down has become a luxury in itself,” he says.
