Winter Spending Shifts: Value, Upgrades & Experiences Trump Low Prices

• Households are prioritizing value, upgrades, and curated experiences for winter spending, shifting towards quality over across-the-board increases.
• Strong weekday corporate demand is keeping metro hotel room rates firm, limiting price flexibility for consumers.
• Hotels are offering packaged inclusions and loyalty benefits (e.g., F&B credits, tier upgrades) instead of just lower room rates to add value.
• Discretionary budgets are increasingly allocated to upscale stays, curated dining, and wellness experiences by affluent leisure users and DINK households.
• A revised GST slab for mid-scale rooms may make room rates appear stable, but overall trip costs could rise due to increased ancillary spends.

Why It Matters: Winter travel costs are rising, with hotels prioritizing value-adds over discounts.