Data-led features reshape how women plan stays and bus journeys

Technology and user-generated content are increasingly shaping how women in India plan their travel. New platform patterns show that women tend to take a more careful and detailed approach before confirming bookings, especially for accommodation and intercity bus journeys. Behavioural signals indicate that women spend more time reading reviews, checking maps and Street View, and looking closely at photos uploaded by other guests. These habits are also reflected in booking trends. Women are booking 50 per cent more stays at least 15 days in advance and show a 16 per cent higher preference for premium and branded properties compared to men. This preference becomes stronger as travellers move from Tier 1 to Tier 3 cities, where branded stays are often seen as a sign of reassurance.

On intercity bus routes, solo women travellers also show a clear preference for seating near other women rather than in mixed proximity. When a woman appears to be planning a stay, certain cues are made easier to find. Ratings by women are highlighted, and AI-led summaries bring attention to feedback related to staff behaviour and location safety. Amenity indicators such as CCTV, door eye, door chains and full-length mirrors are also shown more clearly.

Street View allows travellers to visually check the surrounding area before deciding. A similar system is applied to bus journeys, where reviews from women-only trips are filtered by safety, punctuality and cleanliness. Rajesh Magow, Co-Founder and Group CEO, MakeMyTrip, said, “Women are already careful in planning their travel. The usage patterns indicate how thoughtfully they evaluate both stays and travel routes. We are trying to make this trip planning process easier for them leveraging our rich data and AI so that they can take informed decisions.

” Behind this approach is a combination of millions of reviews and structured data from accommodation providers and bus operators, helping women see their options more clearly.