Delhi’s luxury hospitality sector is experiencing a massive surge in room rates and occupancy as the India AI Impact Summit 2026 approaches, signaling the event’s global draw. Scheduled from February 16 to 20 at Bharat Mandapam, the summit hosted by India’s Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology (MeitY) under the IndiaAI Mission has already garnered over 35,000 registrations from more than 100 countries, including 15-20 heads of government, 50+ ministers, and top CEOs like Sundar Pichai and Sam Altman.
Premium properties report near-full bookings, with tariffs jumping dramatically for the summit period. At Taj Palace, the Presidential Suite now commands up to ₹30 lakh per night, a 12-fold increase from regular rates, while The Oberoi lists rooms at ₹5 lakh and requires minimum two-night stays. The Leela Palace’s Maharaja Suite hits ₹7.34 lakh, and ITC Maurya along with Le Méridien are largely sold out, forcing spillover demand to mid-tier hotels at 90-95% occupancy. Eros Hotel notes a 30-50% hike, reflecting exceptional demand from international delegates, tech leaders, and corporate groups.
This price escalation underscores the summit’s scale as the largest AI gathering in the Global South, focusing on ethical AI, governance, healthcare, agriculture, and bridging the global AI divide through plenaries, hackathons, and an AI Expo. Hoteliers like those at Jaypee Vasant Continental attribute the boom to block bookings and extended stays blending business with leisure, boosting Delhi’s MICE hub status. Industry voices, including ixigo’s CEO, highlight a sixfold jump in searches, with central Delhi five-stars at ₹70,000-₹1 lakh where available.
As preparations intensify with infrastructure upgrades around Bharat Mandapam and IGI Airport, the surge highlights economic ripple effects but sparks calls for price ceilings amid consumer concerns. With Prime Minister Narendra Modi inaugurating the event, India positions itself as a pivotal AI innovator, drawing elite crowds that transform the capital’s skyline—and its hotel ledgers—for days.
