Who’s profiting from extended weekends? This time it’s the car rental companies

2017 is the year of long weekends.While you are arranging the last moment things for tomorrow drive to hill station or beach, someone else is actually earning profits.

Companies are buzzing over the long weekend starting 24th February and we're not just talking flights. Road trips are the flavor of holidays, with cab and car rental services reporting an upward swing of bookings and enquiries.

Travellers are now taking short breaks through the year and not limiting themselves one or two big holidays as in the past, which experts believe will help the travel and tourism industry as it ensures that demand is well spread out.

"This year, we will have many long weekends and many travellers are opting to go for short trips rather than longer vacations. There has been 10%-15% increase in the bookings for this Shivratri weekened and mostly people are travelling to local destinations," said Aditya Loomba, Joint Managing Director, ECO Rent A Car.

With this trend on the rise, and 11 long weekends coming up in 2017, it is going to be a great year ahead for the industry.
"We have witnessed 15-20%spike in the bookings for the intercity cabs as many people are taking this opportunity to go to nearby places. We are seeing trend for bookings coming for Goa, Lavasa and Aamby Valley from Pune and Mumbai. This year is a good opportunity for us as people make their long weekend travel plans way in advance, " Vivek Kejriwal, Founder & CEO, OneWay.Cab told Business Insider.