Brands
Agra up 2,000%, Jaisalmer 1,400%: Valentine’s weekend hotel bookings jump 175 per cent
NATIONAL: Valentine’s Day 2026 has triggered a sharp surge in India’s hospitality market, with hotel bookings jumping by as much as 175 per cent in some segments as couples opt for longer, costlier and experience-driven getaways.
Hotel bookings for the Valentine’s weekend, spanning 13 to 16 February, are up 58 per cent year-on-year, according to data from travel data exchange platform Adara, a RateGain company. The spike reflects a decisive shift in how couples are marking the occasion: fewer dinner reservations, more packed suitcases.
Spending is rising alongside demand. Standard hotel rooms are averaging between Rs 15,000 and Rs 18,000 per night, while luxury suites are priced above Rs 30,000, signalling a move away from budget stays. Many couples are stretching trips to three or four nights, turning the long weekend into short holidays or “staycations”.
The demand has been uneven but spectacular in parts. Agra tops the chart with a 2,000 per cent jump in interest and bookings, buoyed by the enduring allure of the Taj Mahal. Jaisalmer follows with a 1,400 per cent surge as travellers chase desert sunsets and heritage haveli experiences. Madikeri in Coorg recorded an 1,100 per cent rise, Puducherry 1,000 per cent and Goa 800 per cent.
Other destinations also saw sharp increases, including Udaipur at 550 per cent, Bengaluru at 269 per cent, Ooty at 200 per cent, Kevadia at 300 per cent and New Tehri at 100 per cent.
Industry executives say the growth is being driven by experience-led travel rather than traditional celebrations. Hotels report strong demand for curated offerings such as private dining, spa retreats, villa stays and bespoke romantic itineraries, with couples seeking exclusivity over scale.
February’s packed wedding calendar has added another layer to the boom. Valentine’s Day falls in the middle of peak wedding season, drawing not only couples but also wedding guests and pre-wedding travellers folding celebrations into existing plans.
A newer trend is also emerging alongside romance. “Galentine’s Day” travel (women-led group bookings) for luxury villas and boutique properties, is gaining traction, widening the demand base beyond couples.
The impact on the sector has been immediate. Popular leisure destinations are reporting occupancies close to 100 per cent, making Valentine’s weekend one of the strongest trading periods of the year. International travel interest is also rising, with overseas holiday searches up 31 per cent and premium romantic trips costing between Rs 2 lakh and Rs 3 lakh per couple.
Brands
Reserve Bank of India cancels Paytm Payments Bank licence
Central bank cites compliance failures; curbs tighten as wind-up looms
MUMBAI: India’s banking watchdog delivered its sharpest blow yet to Paytm Payments Bank, cancelling its licence and effectively ending its ability to operate as a bank under the law.
The Reserve Bank of India said the entity can no longer conduct banking business under the Banking Regulation Act, citing concerns that its affairs were not being run in the interest of depositors or the public and that it had failed to meet licence conditions.
The move escalates a crackdown that has been building for months. The bank had already been barred from onboarding new customers since March 11, 2022, and later faced restrictions on deposits, credit and wallet top-ups. In January 2024, the central bank ordered it to stop accepting fresh deposits, pointing to persistent non-compliance, including lapses in customer due diligence, use of funds and technology systems.
Operationally, the bank is now on a tight leash. It may process withdrawals of existing deposits and facilitate loan referrals through banking correspondents, but it cannot take fresh deposits.
The central bank said it would apply to the high court to wind up the bank.
Paytm sought to ringfence the fallout. In a regulatory filing, it said the licence cancellation applies to Paytm Payments Bank Limited, a separate entity, and should not be attributed to One 97 Communications. It added that there is no exposure or material business arrangement with the bank and that it operates independently, without Paytm’s board or management involvement.
“As informed earlier, Paytm (One 97 Communications Limited) and its services, which have been operating without interruption, will continue to operate uninterrupted. These include the Paytm app, Paytm UPI, Paytm Gold and all other services offered by its subsidiaries and associated companies,” the company said.
The distinction may reassure users of the app ecosystem, but the regulator’s verdict is unequivocal. After years of warnings, caps and curbs, the payments bank experiment at Paytm is being shut down—decisively, and with little room left to manoeuvre.
