This forthcoming year report on Trends in Travel has been released by Hilton Hotels. Its 2027 Trends Report has revealed a broader shift in how Indians are travelling, moving beyond curated perfection to prioritize comfort, convenience and authenticity, and choosing experiences that feel right rather than simply look perfect.
- Backed by a global survey of more than 14,000 travellers, including more than 1,000 Indians, Hilton’s latest report explores five trends expected to shape how people plan, book and experience travel in 2027.
- The Rise of ‘Ish’: Indian travellers are letting go of the pressure to live up to someone else’s idea of the “perfect” trip, and increasingly defining travel on their own terms. While 52% feel pressure to get every detail right, only 28% try to accommodate a group and keep others happy, reflecting a growing desire for more personalised, flexible, and self-defined travel experiences.
- The Travel Trust Equation: 69% of Indians trust hotel staff as a travel-planning resource, while, among travellers who trust their family the most, nearly one in six non-parents say their mother is their most trusted source of travel advice – highlighting the enduring value of personal expertise and trusted recommendations.
- Growth Getaways: 81% of Indians say having a trip on the calendar gives them a purpose to work towards, while 50% say travel has helped them discover new interests or passions, as they increasingly look to return home with more than memories.
- Wellness, Rewired: 87% of Indians say fresh air and the outdoors are essential to how they relax while travelling, with 61% spending more time immersed in nature on holiday than they do at home – reinforcing the growing connection between travel, nature, and wellbeing.
- The Micro-Travel Mindset: 80% of Indians like to plan trips that allow them to experience a lot in a short amount of time.
“The Great Rebalance marks a shift from passive tourism to experiences with personal purpose, with travellers increasingly looking to engage more deeply with the places they visit,” said Ben George, senior vice president and commercial director, Asia Pacific, Hilton. “Across Asia Pacific, travellers want to return from their travels with something lasting — a new perspective, a deeper connection, or a renewed sense of wellbeing. Hilton is bringing that shift to life by combining our portfolio of brands, intuitive digital experiences, and the human expertise of our teams to help guests turn every stay into an experience that is distinctly their own.”
The report found five key trends:
The Rise of ‘Ish’: Redefining What Makes A Great Stay
As Indian travellers move beyond rigid ideas of what travel should look like, they’re embracing more flexible, self-defined ways to explore. Whether it’s choosing experiences for personal enjoyment over social validation or redefining solo travel as a balance of independence and connection, travellers are increasingly creating journeys that feel right for them.
- Perfect-ish: In recent years, travellers have felt pressure to create a trip based on external validation and social currency, a sentiment shared by more than half (52%) of Indian respondents. That trend is shifting, and 41% are now planning experiences based on intrinsic preferences, signaling a move towards more authentic and personally rewarding travel experiences.
- Solo-ish: For many travellers, solo travel no longer means travelling alone from start to finish. More than one third Indians (42%) have travelled solo to meet up with friends or family at their destination, reflecting a desire for both independence and connection. As solo travel evolves, travellers are embracing journeys that offer the freedom to explore on their own terms, without sacrificing meaningful social experiences. Motto by Hilton found that more than half of the brand’s worldwide reservations over the past year were for solo guests.
The Travel Trust Equation: Human Expertise Makes the Difference
In an era of AI-powered travel planning, the human touch is becoming the ultimate differentiator among travellers in India.
- Mother Knows Best: Among Indian travellers who trust their family the most, nearly one in six non-parents say their mother is their most trusted source of travel advice, making them more than twice as likely as parents (5%) to turn to mom for guidance. Beyond family, Indians also place significant trust in hotel staff, with 69% trusting them as a travel planning resource.
- Status Envy: Loyalty status isn’t just about perks – it’s increasingly influencing who and what travellers trust. Two third of Indians (66%) say they are more likely to trust recommendations from someone with loyalty status than someone without it, and 41% say they are jealous of friends who have travel loyalty status greater than their own.
- Climbing the Loyalty Ladder: As travellers place greater value on elite status, they’re also becoming more motivated to earn it. Since Hilton Honors evolved to make earning status more achievable and rewarding in January 2026, Hilton Honors members around the world have earned elite tier status faster, with double-digit growth compared to the year before.
Making Time and Travel Count: Travel That Changes You
In India, travel is becoming more than a break from everyday life, as it is increasingly viewed as a catalyst for personal growth.
- The Before glow: The benefits of travel often begin before the journey itself. 81% of Indians agree that having a trip on the calendar gives them a purpose to work toward.
- Skillcations: Travel is increasingly becoming a pathway to personal growth, with 50% of Indians saying that travel helped discover new interests or passions. As travellers look to connect more deeply with destinations, Hilton properties are creating opportunities to engage with local culture and traditions. For example, at Hilton Goa Resort and Hilton Hyderabad Genome Valley Resort & Spa, guests can connect more deeply with their surroundings through immersive experiences that bring each destination’s local culture, traditions and character to life.
Wellness, Rewired: The New Balance of Wellbeing
Indians are increasingly blending the digital and the analog to enhance wellbeing, support restoration and connect more deeply with themselves, their surroundings and others.
- Reset Mode: 82% of travellers in India actively seek experiences that calm the body and reset the nervous system, and 86% say travel enables them to recharge mentally and physically in ways they can’t easily achieve at home. Reflecting this growing focus on deeper restoration, Slohh by Roach Bengaluru, Curio Collection by Hilton, Hilton’s first lifestyle hotel in India, offers guests a holistic approach to wellbeing, with experiences designed to support rest, recovery, and renewal.
- Back to Nature: 87% of Indians say fresh air and the outdoors are essential to how they relax while travelling, and more than half (61%) spend more time immersed in nature while travelling than they do at home.
- Connected to Place: Indians are increasingly seeking wellness experiences that foster a deeper connection to destinations. At Conrad Bengaluru, guests can experience India’s centuries-old wellness traditions through Ayurvedic treatments and Indian-inspired therapies, complemented by views of the tranquil Ulsoor Lake.
The Micro-Travel Mindset: Small Trips, Big Impact
Time has become one of the most valuable – and limited – resources shaping how people travel. Rather than waiting for the perfect opportunity to get away, Indians are embracing shorter, more frequent trips that are easier to plan and fit into everyday life.
- Making More of Less: 80% of Indians like to plan travel that allows them to experience a lot in a short amount of time.
- Defining the Short Stay: The definition of a short trip varies by region. 84% of Indians consider a trip of less than 3-4 days to be a “short trip,” while Japan (86%) and South Korea (59%) define a short trip as less than 2 days. Saudi Arabia and Germany take a broader view, as the most likely of any market surveyed to consider a short trip five to six days or longer (29% and 26%, respectively).
Together, these shifts point to a broader evolution in how Indians are approaching travel – seeking experiences that help them feel more comfortable, confident, and connected while away from home. This idea is also explored through Hilton’s recent It Matters Where You Stay campaign, featuring Deepika Padukone, which celebrates the role a stay can play in turning everyday travel moments into experiences worth remembering.
