Key facts
- MakeMyTrip launched a new feature for guaranteed early check-in and late check-out.
- The service is available at over 10,000 properties in India and 1,000+ international locations.
- Users can reserve three, six, or nine-hour windows for confirmed room access.
- The feature aims to reduce uncertainty and eliminate the need to book an extra night for extended room use.
- Early check-in bookings represent 77% of all slot bookings made through the new feature.
Online travel booking platform MakeMyTrip has launched a new feature allowing travelers to pre-book early check-in and late check-out slots at hotels, villas, and homestays. This service aims to address common travel frustrations related to accommodation timings, particularly for those arriving before standard check-in or departing after usual check-out times. The feature is now available across more than 10,000 properties in India and over 1,000 hotels and stays in 20 international destinations, including Dubai, Bangkok, Bali, and Kuala Lumpur. Travelers can reserve three, six, or nine-hour windows for early check-in or late check-out at the time of booking. MakeMyTrip's data indicates that 53% of domestic travelers arrive at their destinations before 9 am, and 54% begin their return journey after 3 pm, highlighting the need for flexible room access. The company's Chief Product Officer for Hotels, Growth and Emerging Businesses, Ankit Khanna, stated that the feature addresses a persistent pain point by guaranteeing room access. This offering is described as India's first large-scale online travel agency (OTA) service that allows travelers to secure these slots as a confirmed, prepaid option during booking. It offers travelers certainty and can prevent the need to book an additional night solely for a few extra hours. For hotel operators, it provides an opportunity to monetize inventory that might otherwise remain unused. So far, demand has skewed heavily towards early arrivals, with early check-in bookings accounting for 77% of all slot bookings, compared to 23% for late check-out. MakeMyTrip plans to extend the feature to additional properties and international markets in the coming quarters, with Chief Business Officer for Hotels, Abhishek Logani, noting that flexibility and confirmed access are increasingly influencing booking decisions.