Indian travellers are increasingly staying longer and spending more both domestically and internationally, reinforcing India’s status as one of the fastest-growing global travel markets. 

According to Global Hotel Alliance (GHA) and The Leela Palaces, Hotels and Resorts, India-based membership in the GHA DISCOVERY loyalty programme rose 53% in 2025, surpassing one million in 2026. 

Indian members generated $75 million in global hotel revenue, up 25% year-on-year, with international stays contributing 54% of this total. 

Popular outbound destinations include the UAE, Thailand, and Singapore, with international spending ($43.2 million) exceeding domestic ($38.8 million).

Domestically, GHA’s 16 hotels in India generated $82 million in 2025, driven by strong local demand and international visitors, particularly from the US and UK. Overall, India’s travel sector continues to expand, with 32.7 million outbound travellers in 2025 and domestic tourism surpassing pre-pandemic levels.

The Leela is marking its 40th year with expansion into new destinations and hospitality formats, including private membership clubs. 

Indian travellers show strong preferences for family trips, premium experiences, and loyalty programmes, with rising demand for privacy and “bleisure” travel. 

With high engagement and growing outbound demand, India is set to remain a key driver of global travel growth.

Speaking at the Skift India Intelligence Summit, held at The Leela Palace, New Delhi, on 26 March, Chris Hartley, CEO, Global Hotel Alliance, and Anuraag Bhatnagar, CEO, The Leela Palaces, Hotels and Resorts, highlighted the key drivers behind this growth, fuelled by the rapid rise of Indian travellers staying at GHA DISCOVERY’s global portfolio of 1000 hotels.

Continuing the conversation at a press conference the following day (27 March), Chris Hartley, CEO of GHA said: “India has rapidly become one of the most important and influential travel markets in the world. We are seeing strong growth in membership and spending, alongside a clear shift towards more international travel. At the same time, our hotels in India are performing exceptionally well, reflecting robust domestic demand and growing international interest, and reinforcing India’s importance to our global network.”

Anuraag Bhatnagar, CEO, The Leela Palaces, Hotels and Resorts, said: “As we mark 40 years of The Leela, our journey reflects the evolution of India’s luxury traveller, who is increasingly global in outlook yet deeply drawn to immersive, culturally rooted experiences. Our expansion into destinations such as Coorg and Jaisalmer, alongside the growth of Arq By The Leela, reflects a clear shift towards more personalised, experience-led luxury. At The Leela, about 50% of our revenues today come from experiences beyond rooms, spanning dining, wellness and curated programming. Partnerships such as Global Hotel Alliance play a critical role in connecting us to a global base of high-value travellers, while allowing us to retain the distinct identity of Indian luxury. As we grow, our focus remains on building destination-led experiences that are both globally relevant and deeply rooted in India.” -TradeArabia News Service