As Republic Day falls on 26th January 2026, travel experts are seeing a surge in Indians planning short getaways and “minications” over the long weekend. Rajeev Kale, President & Country Head – Holidays, MICE & Visa, Thomas Cook (India) Limited, and SD Nandakumar, President & Country Head – Holidays & Corporate Tours, SOTC Travel, share insights on emerging travel trends.

Rajeev Kale notes, “The upcoming Republic Day long weekend, falling on Monday, with the option to take leave on Friday or Tuesday, offers travel-hungry Indians a welcome 4-day break. We are seeing strong interest in both domestic destinations like Rajasthan, Kerala, Andamans, and neighbouring countries such as Bhutan and Sri Lanka. Short-haul international spots including Dubai, Abu Dhabi, Oman, Maldives, Mauritius, Central Asia’s Georgia, Kazakhstan, Uzbekistan, and new island destinations like Sabah, Cebu, Boracay, Sa Pa, and Phú Quốc are gaining popularity. Families, millennials, Gen Z, and young professionals are also exploring drivecations to offbeat locations such as Panchgani, Mahabaleshwar, Lonavala, Coorg, Ooty, Munnar, and Wayanad.

Additionally, our customers increasingly prefer unique accommodations, heritage bungalows, havelis, forts, tree houses, or plantations and outdoor activities including safaris, biking, camping, trekking, water rafting, paragliding, as well as spa and wellness getaways.”

SD Nandakumar adds, “Long weekends are perfect for short breaks, and for Republic Day, travellers are eyeing popular winter destinations like Kashmir, Himachal, Uttarakhand, and Rajasthan, engaging in soft adventure and winter sports like mountain biking in Gulmarg, ice skating in Shimla, skiing in Auli, and glamping in Rajasthan. Nepal and Bhutan are also seeing demand.

Non-standard travel experiences are trending, tree houses in Wayanad, Chikmagalur, Munnar, or Thekkady; restored heritage forts in Goa; private villas in Alibaug with chefs; plantation bungalows in Darjeeling, Assam, and Coorg. Indians are also exploring easy visa destinations like Vietnam, Thailand, Malaysia, and Indonesia. Greece is gaining attention with direct flights from low-cost carriers.

Spiritual tourism is rising too, with travellers visiting Ayodhya, Varanasi, Prayagraj, Bodh Gaya, Mathura-Vrindavan, Rishikesh-Haridwar, and southern circuits like Tirupati, Rameshwaram, Kanchipuram, as well as Sri Lanka’s Ramayan Trails. Importantly, demand is no longer limited to metros, with strong growth from tier 2 and tier 3 cities.”

The insights show a clear trend: Indians are looking for short, curated experiences with unique stays, adventure options, and spiritual journeys, making Republic Day 2026 a prime time for travel.

Nimbus Realty has joined forces with acclaimed architect Zafar Masud Chaudhary, Founder and Principal Architect of Habitat Architects, to design an exclusive, members-only clubhouse at Tower 5 of Nimbus The Arista Luxe, its premium residential address in Noida.

The clubhouse, envisioned as a tactile and light-filled retreat, reflects Chaudhary’s globally attuned, human-centric design philosophy, prioritising experience, proportion, and understated elegance over ornamentation. Combining texture, light, and spatial layering, the design aims to create an intimate yet expansive environment that resonates with residents on both functional and emotional levels.

Nestled within a 10-acre development comprising 342 finely crafted residences across Towers 5, 7, 8, and 9, Nimbus The Arista Luxe offers expansive landscaped greens, curated water features, and open spaces. The clubhouse will serve as a social sanctuary for residents, fostering community while offering a quiet, contemplative atmosphere.

Sahil Agrawal, CEO of Nimbus Group, commented, “At Nimbus, we approach luxury through intention and longevity. This clubhouse is not ornamental, but instinctive and elegant. Zafar brings a rare sensitivity to scale, materiality, and human behaviour, creating a space that evolves with our residents and becomes part of their daily rituals.”

Zafar Masud Chaudhary added, “Luxury is about atmosphere and the way a space makes you feel. The clubhouse at Nimbus The Arista Luxe is an experiential pause, shaped by light, texture, and continuity. Every detail serves a purpose, creating a subtle yet memorable environment.”

With this collaboration, Nimbus The Arista Luxe reinforces its position at the intersection of architecture, landscape, and lifestyle, offering a refined and emotionally resonant living experience for its residents.

In today’s hospitality landscape, guest experience goes far beyond comfort, it directly impacts reviews, repeat stays, and overall revenue. Addressing this shift, Palaniappa Electronics has introduced Hepi TV, a smart in-room hospitality solution that transforms the traditional guest room television into a powerful, revenue-generating platform designed exclusively for hotels.

Powered by the Palaniappa’s Hepi TV Box, the system replaces passive television viewing with an intuitive home screen built around four smart components that focus on convenience, upselling, and operational efficiency.

One of the standout features is interactive restaurant ordering directly from the TV. Hotels can upload their restaurant menus with visually rich video backdrops for each dish, along with pricing. Guests can browse, select items, choose quantities, and confirm orders using the remote. Once placed, the order is instantly shared via WhatsApp with the kitchen team, room service staff, and management, allowing faster processing and billing without any phone calls. This seamless experience encourages impulse ordering and helps increase F&B revenue.

Hepi TV also simplifies room service requests through one-click options available on the screen. Services such as requesting towels, toiletries, laundry pickup, or spa bookings can be placed instantly. Each request is sent via WhatsApp to the relevant department with the room number, enabling quicker response times. The system also generates service usage reports, helping hotel teams understand guest demand patterns and improve planning.

Another key feature is cab and tour booking through the TV interface. Guests can request transport or tours directly from their rooms, triggering alerts to both the hotel and partnered operators. This adds convenience for guests while opening up commission-based revenue opportunities for hotels.

On the entertainment front, the Hepi TV Premium Package offers access to all paid HD channels across languages, removing the limitation of single regional DTH packs. Popular OTT platforms are available on the same interface, with complete privacy protection as guest login details are automatically erased at checkout. Adding a personal touch, the guest’s name is displayed on the TV screen from check-in to checkout, creating a warm and premium welcome.

Hotels can further use the platform as a marketing tool by uploading up to six branded 4K videos to promote services, offers, or facilities, turning every TV into an in-room communication channel.

All these features are available at ₹400 plus GST per TV per month, with no capital investment required, as the Hepi TV box is provided free of cost. For hotel owners and general managers, Hepi TV positions itself not as an expense, but as a smart investment that enhances guest experience, improves operational control, and generates additional revenue.

Palaniappa Electronics continues to strengthen its standing as a trusted partner for hospitality electronics, known for reliable quality, timely delivery, and dedicated support. Trusted by multiple hotel brands, the company remains a preferred name in the hospitality industry for innovative products and dependable service.

For more details, contact Palaniappa Electronics | Mr. Muthu at 9003045685 or muthu@palaniappagroup.com.