Booking.com bets on partner expansion, deeper inventory and technology for long-term India growth

New Delhi: Betting on India’s expanding travel market, Booking.com is looking to drive long-term growth through stronger partnerships with accommodation providers, a wider inventory of stays and continued investments in technology, as it seeks to tap evolving traveller preferences and expand its presence across the country.

In an interview with PTI, Santosh Kumar, Regional Manager, South Asia at Booking.com, said the company’s strategy is focused on building a stronger partner ecosystem while making a wider range of reliable accommodation options accessible to travellers across destinations and price points.

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“Our approach is focused on long-term growth through stronger partner relationships, greater inventory depth and continued investment in technology. We remain committed to supporting the evolving travel needs of Indian customers while helping our partners connect with more travellers,” Kumar said.

Elaborating on the company’s approach, he said expanding accommodation choices and making the discovery and booking process easier for travellers remain key priorities. Strengthening relationships with accommodation partners and building inventory depth are central to this strategy, particularly as travellers increasingly seek options that cater to different needs, preferences and budgets.

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“As India’s travel ecosystem continues to evolve, so does our focus on expanding accommodation choices and making it easier for travellers to discover and book stays that meet their needs. This strategy includes strengthening partner relationships and building inventory depth.”We want to support our accommodation partners as they grow their businesses, while ensuring travellers have access to a broad range of reliable options across different destinations and price points. Building a strong partner ecosystem is central to delivering that choice,” he said.

A significant opportunity in this expansion lies in the growing interest in alternative accommodation, which is increasingly finding acceptance among different categories of travellers.

Families, groups and individuals seeking more space, flexibility and immersive destination experiences are looking beyond conventional hotel stays, bringing homestays, villas and other non-traditional options into the mainstream accommodation consideration set.

Alternative stays refer to non-traditional accommodation options such as homestays, holiday homes, villas, apartments and guest houses that offer travellers an alternative to conventional hotels.

Kumar said alternative accommodation was gaining traction across different traveller segments and trip types, reflecting a broader shift in consumer preferences.

“We are seeing alternative accommodations become increasingly mainstream across various traveller segments and trip types. Families, groups, and individuals looking for more space or immersive destination experiences are driving strong consideration for non-traditional stays,” he said.

The trend is also reflected in Booking.com’s How India TravelsTM 2026: The Homes Edit research, which found that 94 per cent of surveyed travellers had considered alternative accommodation in some form on their most recent leisure trip. The finding indicates the growing relevance of the segment in India’s wider travel and hospitality market.

“This suggests that the category has become an important part of the wider accommodation consideration set,” Kumar said.

Beyond the company’s business priorities, Kumar said India’s ability to realise its inbound tourism potential would depend on a combination of destination promotion, infrastructure development and easier travel processes.

“Unlocking India’s inbound tourism potential requires a balanced approach that combines foundational infrastructure with direct destination marketing. While targeted marketing raises awareness, long-term growth depends on seamless travel experiences driven by expanded international air connectivity, simplified visa processes, and robust last-mile infrastructure,” he said.

Booking.com, in partnership with travel advisory and research firm VIDEC Consultants, recently launched the fourth edition of its flagship research report, ‘How India Travels TM 2026 – The Homes Edit’.

The report draws on a combination of quantitative and qualitative research conducted in June 2026 through online questionnaires capturing 2,359 consumer responses and 1,131 responses from alternative accommodation property owners and managers.