New Delhi: Delhi is preparing to host some of the world's most powerful leaders — and the capital's luxury hotels are already feeling the pressure.
With the 18th BRICS Leaders' Summit scheduled for September 12–13, demand for premium hotel rooms has surged, leaving several five-star properties either sold out or charging dramatically higher rates.
For travellers hoping to find a luxury room around the summit dates, the problem isn't simply “How much?”
It is increasingly “Is there even a room left?”
Several of the capital's marquee hotels have shown little or no availability around the summit dates.
Booking-platform checks reported no availability at properties including Taj Mahal Hotel and Taj Palace for parts of September 11–13, while The Oberoi New Delhi was also sold out for portions of the period. The Leela Palace New Delhi was not accepting bookings for some of the key dates.
The shortage is being driven by the arrival of foreign leaders, government delegations, officials, business representatives and international media ahead of the summit.
And when demand spikes while inventory stays limited, Delhi's hotel tariffs are doing what hotel tariffs do best:
Going up.
At ITC Maurya, reported rates around the summit period have climbed sharply.
For September 12, room rates were reported to start at roughly ₹70,000, with some room categories reaching about ₹2.55 lakh per night, depending on the booking option.
Other luxury properties are seeing similarly steep prices.
At Shangri-La Eros, reported rates around September 12 were above ₹1.2 lakh, with premium options going higher.
At The Imperial, rooms around the summit period were either unavailable or priced at up to roughly ₹2 lakh for available dates and categories.
The most eye-catching number comes from The Taj Mahal Hotel.
Reports have put the price of its most expensive available option around ₹14.45 lakh for one night on September 10, while standard or entry-level rooms were priced far lower.
That distinction matters.
The headline-grabbing ₹14 lakh figure refers to a premium room option — not the standard price of every room in the hotel.
Other reports have even cited premium rates approaching ₹20 lakh a night, highlighting just how dramatically prices can vary depending on room category, availability and booking platform.
The answer is simple:
Massive demand + limited luxury inventory.
The BRICS Summit will bring heads of state, ministers, senior officials and delegations from across member and partner countries to Delhi.
That creates a concentrated demand spike over just a few days.
Hotel industry executives have already reported the impact.
Radisson Hotel Group said its average room rates across its portfolio were pacing more than 25% higher year-on-year, with the BRICS Summit contributing to increased demand in Delhi.
Travel platforms have reported an even sharper jump in searches for five-star properties. Ixigo said searches had risen by 50%, while rates had increased by more than 100% week-on-week, with some available rooms priced between roughly ₹1 lakh and ₹2.4 lakh a night.
The hotel crunch isn't being created solely by presidents and prime ministers.
A major international summit also brings:
Government officials
Diplomats
Security personnel
Business delegations
Journalists
Event staff
International organisations
Corporate representatives
That means thousands of additional people need accommodation around roughly the same window.
The result is a classic supply squeeze — especially in the luxury segment.
For ordinary visitors planning a Delhi trip around September 11–13, the BRICS effect could mean either paying significantly more or moving farther away from central Delhi.
With premium properties filling up, travellers may increasingly look towards Gurugram and other parts of the NCR for accommodation.
The pressure also extends beyond the hotel room.
The summit is bringing heightened security and traffic restrictions across central Delhi, with authorities issuing advisories for commuters and travellers.
The hotel rush is only one part of the preparations.
Ahead of the summit, New Delhi is undergoing an extensive beautification and security exercise, particularly around Lutyens' Delhi and major hotel corridors.
Authorities have been working on roads, landscaping, gardens, murals and other public spaces, while security arrangements are being tightened across key routes.
The summit itself will be held at Bharat Mandapam in Pragati Maidan on September 12–13.
Delhi's hotel market is effectively giving us a snapshot of what happens when a city suddenly becomes the centre of global diplomacy.
Rooms disappear.
Demand spikes.
Prices climb.
And suddenly, a five-star room that normally costs tens of thousands can enter six-figure territory.
For Delhi's luxury hospitality industry, however, the summit is more than a headache.
It is a massive business opportunity.
For everyone else trying to book a room?
BRICS may have turned “Where should I stay?” into “Can I afford to stay?”
