In the last several years, the hospitality experience in India has undergone a seismic change. Guests are no longer satisfied with just a comfortable bed or a view of the river. Instead, they are seeking engaging and purposeful experiences. The shift to experiential stays is one such response. They are more than just accommodation; an experiential stay means there will be culture, food, local traditions, and community that are seamlessly intertwined in a way that forges an indelible bond between the guest experience and the place. In this chapter, we take a broader look at experiential stay, what it is, why it matters, how to do it well, and what the future is for experiential stay in India.

What is an Experiential Stay?

An experiential stay is more than just a roof over your head. It invites the guest into the economy, heritage, foodways, communities, landscapes, arts, and rituals of a place. Rather than simply visiting as a bystander, guests are invited to engage and participate—pick tea in the hills while learning about a village's relationship with tea, learn craft traditions from artisans, walk to the local market with local guides, attend a folk performance by torchlight, cook dinner with local ingredients at the farm adjacent to the inn, etc. 

In India, experiential stays mean staying in heritage properties (havelis, forts, palaces), farm stays and agritourism, wellness retreats based in an Ayurvedic/yoga tradition, boutique eco-lodges, offbeat destination homestays and so on.

Importance: Influencer of the Trend

Several forces have pushed experiential stays from an idea accessed by the few to a trend that is gaining considerable traction in India:

• Changing expectations of traveller behaviours: Today's travellers, especially millennials and Generation Z, desire authenticity. Luxury is not simply marble and chandeliers; it is a meaningful connection. Guests begin to seek to understand the “local” through experience, not just observation.
• Growing demand for off-the-beaten-path and domestic travel: Access to places has improved, and it is easier to get to a remote and less-visited place. There is a clear demand for stays that are not simply the next tourist stop. Domestic travel policies and campaigns facilitate further interest.
• Environmental sustainability & social responsibility: People are generally becoming more conscious of the effects of tourism on local environments, communities, and their culture. As a result, travellers are increasingly attracted to experiences that are supportive of local artisans, protect heritage, utilise local food & ingredients, and reduce the adverse effects on the environment. 
• Value in differentiation: For hotels, resorts, and boutique properties, experiential offerings also serve as a form of differentiation in a very crowded service offering. Properties that do a good job of integrating culture & food into their stay are generally rewarded with greater guest satisfaction, more repeat business, and more word-of-mouth (online & offline) marketing. 

How Indian Properties Are Doing It — Good Examples & Best Practices

To give you some real-life examples of what works, here are some good examples of models and best practices from Indian hospitality:

Heritage + Architecture + Authentic Storytelling

Properties like restored havelis, forts, and palaces (e.g., Rajasthan, Gujarat, etc.) are using architecture and décor as storytelling. Guests stay in spaces that embody the history, art, and lineage of that site. As well as through the overall property, other ways to connect a guest to its heritage might include guided heritage walks through the property or town.

Local Food Experiences

Food can be one of the most significant conduits of culture. Some places are offering guests: 

• Farm-to-table meals made with on-site ingredients or from local farms.
• Cooking classes with local chefs or local home cooks. 
• Themed meals tied to folklore, regional history, or festivals (e.g. a Rajput thali with stories, stories tied to Awadhi cuisine, etc.).

Cultural Experiences with Activities

Encouraging engagement over observation - 

• Artisan workshops: block printing, weaving, pottery, local crafts
• Village/community visits with locals present: meeting shepherds in desert areas, walking in spice plantations, organic farms, and local village markets.
• Traditional performances of music, dance, rituals: Sufi, folk, tribal, etc., are sometimes integrated into evening programmes. soulofhospitality.com

Nature, Wellness and Slow Travel

Nature, wellness and self-care approaches provide a break from the intensity of urban spaces

• Yoga, Ayurveda, spa treatments in calming natural settings. Ananda in the Himalayas is a classic example.
• Forest walks, wildlife walks, eco-trails, along with local stories told.
• Centre evidence-based wellness stays that integrate dietary, mindfulness, and eco-friendly practices.

Curated Itineraries and Customisation 

The best experiential stays will avoid letting guests meander through options, instead:

• Pre-stay or in-stay options for guests to choose from cultural, food, or adventure experiences.
• Local guides, “experience concierges”, who have profound knowledge of what their region offers. 
• Packages or themes (i.e. “heritage and food”, “nature wellness”, “farm stay with workshops”) which bundle lodging + experiences. 

Challenges & Considerations

Experiential stays are attractive, however, managing a successful one can involve some hurdles:

• Authenticity vs Commercialisation: With poor planning, cultural experiences can come off as contrived or shallow. Visitors can tell the difference between “for show” vs “live culture”. Working authentically with local communities and craftspeople matters.
• Quality & Training: The local artisans/performers may not have had experience hosting tourist visitors; staff may need the training to manage the visitor experience (foreign languages, storytelling, hygiene, and comfort levels).
• Infrastructure & Access: Oftentimes, “exotic” or remote locations do not have decent roads, reliable power, internet connectivity, etc. Some guests might enjoy a rustic or exotic location with the charm of not too many comforts, but often guests do expect some semblance of comforts.
• Sustainability & Impact: More traffic or only growth in popularity can threaten the same cultures/environments the visitor is experiencing. Unmonitored growth or excessive visitation can detract from cultural heritage, over-utilise local natural resources, or otherwise alter local life. 

Opportunities & Future Trends

1. Tech-Enabled Immersion – AR/VR storytelling, digital guides, and personalised apps to enrich cultural experiences.
2. Short, Curated Getaways – Weekend stays and micro-experiences for time-pressed travellers.
3. Wellness + Culture Blends – Ayurveda, yoga, and local cuisine fused with heritage experiences.
4. Community-Led Tourism – Local people as partners, not just performers, ensuring fair benefits.
5. Sustainability as Standard – Green buildings, waste management, and organic sourcing becoming baseline expectations.
6. Niche & Thematic Stays – Culinary trails, music-focused stays, dark-sky camps, and artisan residencies.

Experiential stays not just allow the guests to visit, but it let them immerse, participate and feel the culture and cuisine of a place. Stay connected with Foodism Connect for more such insights!