Come the year end and all flights lead to Goa, where travel bookings are up by a whopping 60% this year as compared to last. Delhi-NCR is a distant second for new year bookings.
The country’s hottest party destination is rolling out the red carpet, literally, for visitors from all over. Live performances, sumptuous spreads, sparkling drinks all come together by the sea on new year’s.
If dining on the beachfront under the stars sounds like your thing, Taj hotels in north Goa have you covered. Gaurav Miglani, area director of Taj North Goa, and general manager of Taj Holiday Village Resort and Spa in Goa, told FE, “This new year’s eve, the Taj north Goa resorts promise an unforgettable experience—guests can enjoy live music, dance performances, and unique parties that complement the festivities.”
A dusk-to-dawn party awaits revellers at JW Marriott, Vagator. Devinder Singh Kaundal, director of food and beverage, noted, “We have celebrations planned from 5 pm to 5 am, which will include a sundowner on the terrace.”
“The celebrations will also include a percussionist and DJ for entertainment, food and beverages across different venues at the property, along with an after party as well. We also have a gaming section for kids so everyone can have a good time,” Kaundal added.
The music promises to never stop at Ronil Goa, a JdV by Hyatt hotel, where general manager Pratiti Rajpal said the property is all set for “an enchanting evening with the Chill Out Hang Jam Collective, featuring DJ Queen Cobra, Deeptoe’s unique handpan, flute, and guitar melodies, along with a violinist and saxophonist Artemiy Maksimov.” Rajpal told FE, “At Ronil Goa, NY celebrations are exclusively reserved for in-house guests and we are seeing a good response. Most guests are planning to come in by December 29 and leave post January 1.”
“Goa continues to reign supreme, offering a perfect blend of beach vibes and festive energy,” Rikant Pittie, co-founder of EaseMyTrip, told FE, adding bookings for Goa on his platform are up by a phenomenal 60% for new year. He added that the beach destination also recorded a 40% surge in bookings for summer travel in 2024 compared to 2023, maintaining its position as a favourite destination.
Understandably, as the party doesn’t end on December 31 in Goa, spilling onto lavish brunches on January 1. At Hosa in Goa’s Siolim, brand chef Harish Rao said, “We are hosting a combined grand brunch with Fireback, our sister restaurant, which will have a lot of interactive live counters and Indo-Thai inspired offerings.”
Anant Kataria, co-founder of Anar in Goa’s Anjuna, also said they have an “extraordinary experience” ready for their guests with Middle Eastern cuisine, inventive plating, theatrical presentations, and a harmonious blend of flavours and ambience.”
Hospitality majors Taj, Marriott, and Ronil, too, are hosting new year’s day brunches, packaging the offering for guests. At Taj hotels, expect diverse spreads with live counters and dessert stations. Ronil Goa is throwing a poolside brunch party, complete with DIY cocktails, live music, a drum circle, poolside games BBQ grills and sushi and mezze platters.
SD Nandakumar, president & country head, holidays and corporate tours, SOTC Travel, said while Western Europe remains a popular choice for new year, on the domestic front, Goa and Kerala are the most attractive destinations.
EaseMyTrip’s Pittie said Shimla, Manali, Pondicherry, Ooty, and Shillong are also capturing travellers’ imaginations, with some of these experiencing search volumes rising 40-100% compared to last year. Rajeev Kale, president and country head — holidays, MICE, visa — at Thomas Cook (India), said, “What’s also trending are new and emerging destinations like Azerbaijan and Georgia, driven by easy visa processes and direct connectivity.”