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Mumbai's Affinity Class Drives the Staycation Surge, Blending Heritage and Wellness

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  //travel-leisure.news-articles.net/content/2025/ .. cation-surge-blending-heritage-and-wellness.html
  Published in Travel and Leisure on Tuesday, November 25th 2025 at 10:31 GMT by ThePrint

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The Staycation Surge: How Mumbai’s Affinity Class is Redefining Leisure, Lifestyle and Legacy
(A deep‑dive summary of ANI Press Release – The Print, 2024)

1. Setting the Stage: The New‑Age Staycation

The past three years have upended how Indians travel. Lockdowns, curfews and a resurgent fear of the “outside world” turned the city into an oasis of its own. In this environment, a quiet revolution has taken hold: the staycation—a vacation that stays within one’s own city. According to ANI’s data, staycation bookings in Mumbai rose by 38 % in 2023 compared with the previous year, a trend that has accelerated now that restrictions are easing.

Affinity Class, a Mumbai‑based leisure‑club launched by Global Leisure Solutions (GLS), has positioned itself at the nexus of this trend. Rather than offering generic hotel stays, Affinity Class promises a holistic experience that blends wellness, cultural immersion, and social connection—all without stepping foot outside the city.

2. Affinity Class: Brand Vision & Core Proposition

Affinity Class was conceived with a three‑fold mission:

The brand’s tagline—“Stay. Discover. Belong.”—encapsulates its promise: a stay that lets you discover hidden gems of Mumbai, discover yourself, and belong to a community that cares.

3. Membership Architecture & Pricing

Affinity Class offers three membership tiers: Bronze, Silver, and Gold. All tiers include:

• Monthly stay credits (10‑15 nights for Bronze, 15‑20 for Silver, 25‑30 for Gold).
• Priority booking and 24‑hour concierge service.
• Access to the Affinity Club—a members‑only lounge in the heart of Bandra, equipped with a library of travel guides, wellness sessions and networking mixers.

The pricing is competitive when benchmarked against luxury hotel packages. For instance, a 5‑night stay in an Affinity Class property is priced ₹35 % cheaper than a comparable 5‑night stay in a 4‑star hotel, even after accounting for extra services like a personal butler or a private yoga instructor.

4. Curated Destinations & The “Heritage Hub”

Unlike generic leisure providers, Affinity Class has built a network of “Heritage Hubs”—a selection of 20 hand‑picked properties spread across the city. These include:

• The Mahindra Residence (Fort, Mumbai): a restored 19th‑century mansion now turned boutique hotel.
• The Bandra Bungalow (Bandra West): a colonial‑style villa with rooftop gardens and a rooftop cinema.
• The Andheri Loft (Andheri West): a high‑tech, glass‑enclosed loft that offers panoramic views of the Arabian Sea.

Each Hub offers theme‑based packages—for example, “Maratha Heritage”, “Art & Culture”, and “Wellness Retreat” that incorporate local museums, art galleries, wellness retreats, and authentic street‑food tours. The packages come with “Affinity Guides”—localized itineraries created by in‑city experts.

5. Community & Social Impact

Affinity Class’s emphasis on community is not just about social networking. The brand has launched several social‑impact initiatives:

1. “Stay for a Cause” Program – a portion of every stay’s proceeds goes to the Mumbai Heritage Preservation Fund.
2. Skill‑Sharing Workshops – monthly workshops hosted by local artisans (e.g., hand‑loom weaving, pottery) that offer members hands‑on experiences and a chance to support artisans.
3. Youth Internship Programme – a partnership with the Indian Institute of Hospitality to provide real‑world experience to hospitality students.

By weaving these initiatives into the brand, Affinity Class positions itself as a legacy‑builder, not just a leisure brand.

6. Technology & Personalisation

Affinity Class has invested heavily in tech. The Affinity App (available on iOS & Android) offers:

• AI‑driven “Preference Engine” that learns users’ tastes from their booking history and suggests customized itineraries.
• A real‑time “Mood‑Based” recommendation system: for instance, if a member’s app senses “need for serenity”, it will propose a wellness‑focused stay.
• Integration with popular payment gateways and a loyalty points system that can be redeemed across partner brands like Zomato, BookMyShow, and OYO.

The app’s analytics also feed back into the brand’s content strategy, ensuring that the “Heritage Hubs” stay relevant to shifting member preferences.

7. Partnerships & Strategic Alliances

Affinity Class has forged strategic alliances to enhance its ecosystem:

• Partnership with ANI Press – for exclusive coverage, trend reports and co‑marketing campaigns that raise awareness about staycation benefits.
• Collaboration with the Mumbai Tourism Development Authority (MTDA) – to support the “Mumbai Cultural Trail”, a curated route connecting historic sites.
• Co‑branding with Tata CLiQ and Zomato – offering bundled offers such as a “Stay + Eat” package, which includes a dinner at a Michelin‑starred restaurant within the Hub.

These partnerships enable Affinity Class to offer a seamless, high‑value experience that appeals to both domestic and international visitors.

8. Sustainability & Legacy Projects

Sustainability is a core tenet of Affinity Class’s operations:

• Zero‑Waste Initiative – each Hub has a waste‑segregation system, and the brand partners with local NGOs to recycle waste.
• Solar Power & Rainwater Harvesting – all properties are equipped with solar panels and rainwater harvesting systems.
• Carbon Offset Program – members can opt to offset the carbon footprint of their stays by contributing to local tree‑planting drives.

By aligning its operational ethos with sustainability, Affinity Class not only reduces its environmental impact but also offers members a guilt‑free luxury.

9. Future Outlook & Expansion Plans

Affinity Class is not content with just being a “staycation” brand. The leadership team is looking at:

• Geographical Expansion – adding two new hubs in Pune and Jaipur by 2025, thereby extending the “Heritage Hub” concept to other culturally rich cities.
• Augmented Reality (AR) Tours – launching AR‑enabled heritage tours that allow members to view historical narratives overlaid on actual sites.
• Hybrid Events – a mix of online and offline events that connect members globally, thus turning Affinity Class into a global leisure network.

These initiatives aim to cement Affinity Class’s position as a trailblazer in redefining the leisure lifestyle in an increasingly digital and sustainability‑focused world.

10. Takeaway

The ANI press release showcases Affinity Class as a holistic playbook for the future of leisure in India—one that blends heritage, community, tech, sustainability and a deep understanding of the evolving needs of modern travelers. By focusing on staycations, the brand taps into a growing demand for local, low‑impact tourism while simultaneously fostering a sense of belonging among its members.

For Mumbai’s residents and visitors alike, Affinity Class offers more than a roof over one’s head: it offers a curated journey through the city’s culture, a platform for community engagement, and a legacy that preserves Mumbai’s heritage for generations to come. As the world continues to redefine travel, Affinity Class’s model may well become the benchmark for quality, sustainable, and community‑driven leisure experiences worldwide.