This Mother's Day, Gift Memories: Experiential Travel Takes Center Stage
In an age when the greatest luxury is quality time, Mother's Day travel represents a powerful new language of gratitude: one that blends relaxation.
In an era where meaning outweighs material, the way we celebrate special occasions like Mother's Day is undergoing a thoughtful transformation. Indian consumers are increasingly moving beyond traditional gifts to embrace experiences—especially travel—as the ultimate expression of love, gratitude, and togetherness.
'Indian consumers are increasingly choosing to celebrate special occasions like Mother's Day through experiences rather than traditional gifts," says Rajeev Kale, President & Country Head – Holidays, MICE, Visa, Thomas Cook (India) Ltd. 'Travel offers the perfect solution—to express appreciation for mothers while offering the dual benefit of rejuvenation and quality me-time."
The shift is clear: families are seeking not just destinations, but soulful experiences that allow them to reconnect and recharge. Tranquil, wellness-focused domestic getaways are topping wishlists this year, with the serene backwaters of Kerala, the peaceful retreats of Kumarakom, the lush landscapes of Wayanad, and the coastal calm of South Goa and Pondicherry seeing strong demand. For those yearning for cooler climates, the misty hills of Himachal, Uttarakhand, Munnar, and Coonoor offer a refreshing escape.
This evolving mindset around gifting is also reflected in broader industry trends. 'The approach to gifting on occasions such as Mother's Day is undergoing a transformation, with a strong preference emerging for meaningful, experience-led celebrations," shares SD Nandakumar, President & Country Head – Holidays & Corporate Tours, SOTC Travel. 'Travel is increasingly being viewed as a thoughtful and contemporary gift that fosters wellness and togetherness."
He notes a rising interest in curated stays that add deeper layers to the travel experience—think plantation bungalows in Coorg, heritage villas in Darjeeling, and nature-focused resorts that offer immersive, sensory connections with the environment. The focus is on slow, soulful travel rather than the traditional tick-box sightseeing tours.
Meanwhile, Nandakumar observes that destinations like Bali, known for its wellness retreats, the Maldives with its exclusive island resorts, and Abu Dhabi's harmonious blend of luxury and culture, are highly sought after for those looking to elevate their celebrations with a touch of global elegance.
More than just vacations, these journeys are becoming heartfelt gifts—a way to express love beyond words, to bond over new experiences, and to create memories that last a lifetime.
In an age when the greatest luxury is quality time, Mother's Day travel represents a powerful new language of gratitude: one that blends relaxation, discovery, and the simple joy of being together.
First Published:
April 29, 2025, 07:57 IST
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
&w=3840&q=100)
Business Standard
31 minutes ago
- Business Standard
MakeMyTrip charts global expansion route, boosts corporate travel focus
Cofounder says growth driven by three engines: Customers, artificial intelligence, and supply Akshara Srivastava Gulveen Aulakh New Delhi Listen to This Article India's largest online travel aggregator, MakeMyTrip, is sharply expanding its footprint in the corporate travel segment while reinforcing a long-term strategy centred on technology, artificial intelligence (AI), and regional dominance. With a market capitalisation of over $9.8 billion, powered by a profit-making business, the company is pushing its brand into newer markets such as Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates (UAE), while keeping its door open for future fundraising opportunities. 'Our grand objective is to become a one-stop shop for every conceivable need of the Indian traveller. Our recent launches — tours, attractions, and cruises — along with established
Time of India
2 hours ago
- Time of India
Hampi not just tourist place, it's sacred: Ex-ambassador to Unesco
Bengaluru: The kind of tourism that has developed in Hampi is not very congenial to the site, retired IAS officer Chiranjiv Singh noted during an event in Bengaluru Sunday. "Hampi is not just a tourist place, it is a sacred place," Singh, a former Indian Ambassador to Unesco, said at Bharatiya Vidya Bhavan (BVB) here. Tired of too many ads? go ad free now He threw light on how tourism often spoils heritage sites. Giving examples of how European nations limit tourism, he insisted on preserving and protecting Hampi from the problems brought about by it. Singh spoke after launching the book 'The Empire of the God King' by Tirumala Venkata Devayara, the 20th descendant of the Emperor Krishnadevaraya of Vijayanagara. Devaraya, a graduate in history from the University of Durham, is preparing to begin pursuing his master's at the SOAS University of London. BVB chairman KG Raghavan lamented the interference of govt bodies in history education. "Govts want to train young minds to suit their understanding of what history ought to be. That is a grave danger for the preservation of our culture," he said. In an interactive session moderated by art critic Jyothi Raghuram, the author said that his main sources of historical material were travelogues by Portuguese and Italian travellers who described Hampi. The 24-year-old also expressed his desire to return to India after his studies.
India.com
2 hours ago
- India.com
India's most beautiful railway station looks better than a palace; not located in Delhi, Lucknow, Bengaluru, Chennai, the city is...
Mumbai's Victoria Terminus is considered the most beautiful railway station in India. (File) Most beautiful railway station in India: The Indian Railways is one of the largest railway networks in the world, with a whopping 7,461 railway stations across the country. While a majority of Indian railways stations are often overcrowded and some downright filthy, there are a few that are ranked among the most charming train stations on the planet, one shining example being the Victoria Terminus, now known as Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj Terminus (CST), which is regarded as the most beautiful railway station in India.017. Who designed Victoria Terminus? A masterpiece of the Victorian-era Gothic architecture, the Victoria Terminus was built over a span of nearly a decade. The iconic structure, named after Queen Victoria of England, was constructed between 1878-1887 during the British rule in India, and was was designed by British architect Frederick William Stevens, who used the initial design by Axel Haig to construct the historic building in breathtaking Italian Gothic style. According to historians, Stevens, who drew inspiration for the terminus' design from a masterpiece watercolor sketch by a draughtsman called Axel Haig, received a payment of $19,000 (around Rs 160,900) for his services, a massive sum at the time. Construction was completed in 1887, the year marking 50 years of Queen Victoria's rule. Now designated as a UNESCO World Heritage Site, the Victoria Terminus was built to replace the old Bori Bunder railway station, and has became an iconic symbol of Mumbai city. Why Victoria Terminus resembles a palace? The Victoria Terminus looks like a gothic palace, and resembles many of the Victorian-era public buildings constructed during 1870s British Raj in Mumbai, like the Elphinstone College and the various buildings of Mumbai University, which were designed by famed architect George Gilbert Scott, who also designed his award-winning Berlin Parliament building in Germany. Stevens' work has been compared to Scott's 1873 St Pancras railway station in London as both feature the lively Italian Gothic style of architecture which has become a hallmark of Victorian-era buildings constructed in British India. The Victoria Terminus took a decade to complete, the longest for any building of that era in Mumbai. When was Victoria Terminus renamed to CST? The Victoria Terminus was officially renamed as the Chhatrapati Shivaji Terminus (CST) in March 1996, after the 17th-century Maratha warrior king and the Maratha Empire's first 'Chhatrapati' or king, Shivaji Maharaj. In 2017, the station's named was again changed to Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj Terminus. The CST serves as the headquarters of the Central Railway, and is one of India's busiest railways stations. The terminal has 18 platforms and serves both long-distance as well as suburban trains in the Central Railway network.
