September is turning out to be a busy month for hotels across India, with BRICS, corporate travel, government movement and major business events driving higher bookings in key markets. The increase is being seen not only in Delhi but also across other metros and large tier-two cities.

Bookings through the platform of RateGain Travel Technologies rose 36 percent by numbers and 82 percent by value in the first eight days of September compared with the same period in August, said founder and managing director Bhanu Chopra. RateGain’s booking engine powers direct bookings on hotel websites. According to Chopra, the higher value of bookings indicates that guests are making larger and longer reservations, with conference and exhibition demand contributing to the shift.

Travel and hospitality management company CoTrav is also seeing stronger activity. Cofounder and chief technology officer Vinod Kumar Sah said corporate events, MICE (meetings, incentives, conferences and exhibitions) and travel activity from existing clients have increased by 20-30 percent through the year into September. Activity from new clients has increased 50 percent this month.

“Overall, our September business is up by over 70 percent compared to September 2025,” he said.

The trend is also reflected in hotel performance. Ibis and Ibis Styles properties in India recorded an 8-10 percent rise in occupancies during the first ten days of September, while average daily rates increased by 16-18 percent compared with the same period last year, said commercial head Animesh Kumar.

Mumbai has been among the stronger markets, supported by the Global Fintech Fest 2026, held from September 8 to 11. Delhi is also expected to see increased demand around Semicon India 2026, scheduled from September 17 to 19.

Delhi is seeing an additional boost from the BRICS Summit, with demand and hotel rates rising sharply during the summit period. According to online travel agency Cleartrip, luxury hotel rates in Delhi have increased 59 percent year-on-year, while four-star properties have seen rates rise by around 113 percent. Budget bookings in the national capital are also up 138 percent from a year earlier, said Pallavi Saxena, chief marketing and revenue officer at the company.

At The LaLiT New Delhi, the hotel is expecting a sold-out situation during the peak BRICS Summit period. General manager Vishal Sharma said the impact is extending beyond the summit dates.

“Compared to several other months, September is expected to perform strongly in terms of occupancies and rates supported by international business travel, government and corporate movement and the overall calendar of events in the capital,” he said.

The two-day BRICS Summit beginning Saturday is also creating strong demand for luxury accommodation in the capital. Delegates from 11 member countries and 10 partner countries are arriving in Delhi, with luxury hotels preparing customised experiences that showcase Indian culture and hospitality.

At The Taj Mahal Hotel, New Delhi, preparations include personalised rice-grain keychains, a cookbook featuring heirloom recipes and Indian-themed décor. BRICS flags and colours will be displayed across the property, while brass lotus installations, a lotus-inspired fountain and a floral peacock installation will add to the visual presentation. Flute, sitar, drums, Indian dance forms, aarti, flowers and dhoop rituals will also form part of the experience.

The Leela Palace is expected to host delegations from the UAE, Thailand, Bahrain, Saudi Arabia and some Russian guests, while ITC Maurya and Sheraton properties are being decorated with BRICS motifs and logos. Several other luxury hotels, including Taj Palace, The Oberoi, Le Méridien, The Claridges, The Imperial and The Ashok, are also expected to accommodate visiting delegations.

The summit is also highlighting the shortage of luxury rooms in the capital. Several marquee properties have limited or no availability, while room rates have risen sharply. Rooms at ITC Maurya for September 11-13 have been quoted at more than Rs 2.5 lakh per night, while rooms at The Taj Mahal Hotel are sold out and unavailable for September 11 due to high demand and security restrictions surrounding the summit.

With major business events, corporate movement and international and government travel converging in September, the month is emerging as a strong period for hotel occupancy and room rates across several Indian markets.