‘Loved by Devotees’ initiative by MakeMyTrip to simplify pilgrimage stays – ET TravelWorld

MakeMyTrip, a leading travel platform, has introduced ‘Loved by Devotees’, a specially curated collection of 450+ hotels and homestays across 26 major spiritual destinations in India. This initiative comes at a time when spiritual travel in India is seeing significant growth, with pilgrimage destinations now accounting for over 10 per cent of the platform’s total room night bookings in Q3 FY25. Searches for religious destinations have surged by 46 per cent in 2024 compared to 2022, highlighting a growing demand for spiritually enriching travel experiences.

India’s pilgrimage journeys are often deeply rooted in family traditions, with many travellers being elderly or seeking a peaceful and comfortable stay. ‘Loved by Devotees’ aims to simplify this process, offering properties specifically designed to cater to the needs of spiritual travellers. The initiative is based on real traveller insights and uses technology to make it easier for pilgrims to find stays that prioritise comfort, accessibility, and convenience.

Ankit Khanna, Chief Product Officer – Hotel, Growth & Emerging Businesses at MakeMyTrip, commented, “With improved connectivity to spiritual destinations across India, ‘Loved by Devotees’ ensures that accommodations meet the unique needs of spiritual travellers. Our goal is to reduce the stress of planning, so pilgrims can focus entirely on their faith and journey.”

The selection process evaluates properties based on proximity to sacred sites, accessibility from transport hubs, availability of vegetarian dining, parking facilities, and elderly-friendly amenities like wheelchair assistance. Only accommodations with user ratings of 3.5 or higher are included, ensuring a high standard of quality.

Currently covering 26 popular spiritual destinations, the feature will continue to expand, making spiritual travel more accessible in the future.