The 18th BRICS Summit is underway in New Delhi from September 11 to 13, bringing leaders from 11 member nations and 10 partner countries to Bharat Mandapam. Across the capital, some of the city’s grandest hotels have taken on a very different role for the week, becoming temporary bases for presidents, prime ministers and their delegations.
That has turned Delhi’s luxury hotel circuit into an important part of the summit itself, with familiar names such as Taj, Oberoi, Leela and ITC Maurya balancing five-star hospitality with extraordinary security demands.
Grand Hotels, Grander Security
Taj Palace: China’s Base
Chinese President Xi Jinping has arrived with a delegation of nearly 400. He has settled into the Taj Palace on Sardar Patel Marg, a property long favoured for state visits for its sprawling grounds and old world grandeur.
Also Read: Xi Jinping’s Presidential Motorcade: Inside His BRICS 2026 Arrival In Delhi
ITC Maurya: Russia’s Fortress
Russian President Vladimir Putin has been placed at ITC Maurya, with entire floors reportedly cleared for his stay. One of Delhi’s oldest luxury landmarks, the hotel is known for its sweeping gardens and has hosted visiting heads of state for decades.
The Oberoi: Iran’s Quiet Stay
Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian is staying at The Oberoi, near Golf Links, one of the city’s most discreet luxury addresses. The property’s understated elegance and calm, garden facing rooms have made it a longstanding favourite with dignitaries who prefer to keep a lower profile.
The Leela Palace: A Multinational Hub
The Leela Palace has become something of a multinational address, hosting delegations from the UAE, Thailand, Bahrain and Saudi Arabia alongside members of the Russian contingent. Its grand, palace style architecture and expansive banquet spaces have made it a natural choice for accommodating several delegations under one roof.
South Africa’s delegation has taken rooms at The Lalit, while Egypt’s officials are based at the Sheraton New Delhi. Overflow guests are spread across The Imperial, The Claridges, Le Meridien and The Ashok.
Behind the marble lobbies and manicured driveways, these properties have effectively become extensions of the summit itself, with security layered accordingly at every entrance and floor.
Room Rates Reach Records
The summit has also triggered a very different kind of scramble, one measured in room rates rather than motorcades. Tariffs at properties like ITC Maurya have crossed Rs 2.3 lakh a night for the summit window, with hotel groups reporting average rates well above their usual levels. The Taj Mahal Hotel, Taj Palace, The Oberoi and The Leela Palace have all reported zero availability for the summit dates, pushing overflow demand toward properties on the city’s outskirts.
Also Read: Vladimir Putin’s Presidential Convoy: A Showcase Of Armoured Luxury And Power
BRICS 2026 is as much a hospitality moment as it is a diplomatic one for Delhi’s luxury hotels. When the world’s leaders come calling, the capital’s grandest addresses are expected to be equal parts sanctuary, fortress and stage, a reminder of the weight luxury hospitality carries during a summit of this scale.
