MakeMyTrip has introduced ‘Loved by Devotees,’ a curated collection of over 450 hotels and homestays across 26 spiritual destinations in India, catering to the unique needs of pilgrims. The initiative aims to simplify the process of finding suitable accommodations for religious travelers, ensuring comfort, accessibility, and convenience. Pilgrimage travel has seen significant growth, now accounting for over 10% of MakeMyTrip’s total room night bookings in Q3 FY25. Searches for religious destinations have surged by 46% in 2024 compared to 2022, reflecting an increasing preference for spiritually enriching journeys.
Ankit Khanna, Chief Product Officer – Hotel, Growth & Emerging Businesses, said, “‘Loved by Devotees’ ensures that stays meet the specific needs of spiritual travelers. Developed using real traveler insights and technology, the initiative removes the stress of planning, allowing devotees to focus on their faith.” The feature evaluates properties based on six key criteria, including proximity to places of worship, accessibility from transit points, vegetarian dining options, parking, travel desk support, and elderly-friendly amenities. Only accommodations with a rating of 3.5 or higher on MakeMyTrip are included to maintain quality and reliability.
Kolkata, a major travel hub, is expected to see a rise in bookings for destinations such as Puri, Varanasi, and Ayodhya. With an increasing number of pilgrims from the city seeking well-curated stays, ‘Loved by Devotees’ offers a structured approach to religious travel planning, making it more convenient for travelers.
