First Motel-Inspired Travel Stop: Round D Clock Debuts at IGI Airport

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Let's be honest, transit stays in India have long been either over-the-top airport hotels or questionable budget options with zero charm. There's rarely been a middle ground that understands what modern travelers actually need: flexibility, comfort, and efficiency without the fuss.

Enter Round D Clock, Encalm Hospitality's answer to this gap. Just 10 minutes from IGI Airport's Terminal 3 in New Delhi, this isn't your typical airport hotel. It's India's first motel-inspired travel stop, designed for the kind of traveler who thinks in hours, not days, the layover crew, the early-morning flyers, the road-trippers, and anyone who just needs a clean bed and a hot shower without committing to a full check-in ordeal.

The Motel Revival (But Make It Indian)

The motel concept has been an American road-trip staple for decades, but it's never quite found its footing in India. Round D Clock is changing that narrative. This isn't about nostalgia or imported concepts, it's about adapting a proven model to fit India's unique travel ecosystem.

[Image 1: Exterior view of Round D Clock property showing modern facade and parking area]

What makes this different? Flexibility. You're not locked into rigid check-in and check-out times. Need a room for six hours between connecting flights? Done. Want a dorm bed for a quick power nap before an early departure? They've got you. It's hospitality designed around your schedule, not the other way around.

The property features 27 rooms and 12 dormitory beds, with one accessible room included, a thoughtful touch that we wish more properties would prioritize. The setup caters to solo travelers, couples, families, and even small groups looking for different accommodation styles under one roof.

More Than Just a Place to Sleep

Here's where Round D Clock gets interesting. While the accommodation is the anchor, Encalm Hospitality has built an entire ecosystem around the traveler's journey.

[Image 2: Interior of multi-cuisine QSR dining area with seating]

The multi-cuisine QSR (quick-service restaurant) seats over 100 guests and features a drive-thru, yes, a drive-thru. For travelers on tight schedules or those who'd rather grab a meal on the go, this is a game-changer. We're talking about hot food, multiple cuisine options, and the convenience of not having to park and walk through a sprawling property just to eat.

The drive-thru element alone deserves attention. In a country where food stops along highways are often limited to roadside dhabas (which we love, by the way) or chain restaurants inside malls, having a quality drive-thru option near a major airport fills a genuine need.

The Amenities That Actually Matter

Round D Clock isn't trying to be everything to everyone. Instead, it's nailing the essentials that transit travelers genuinely need.

Laundry service? Check. Because nothing feels worse than boarding a long-haul flight in clothes you've worn for 20 hours.

Luggage storage? Absolutely. For those extended layovers where you want to explore Delhi but don't want to drag your bags through Connaught Place.

ATM on-site? Yes. Small detail, massive convenience.

Secure parking? Done. With drive-thru dining and a location near the airport, this was non-negotiable.

Free Wi-Fi? Of course. In 2026, this isn't a luxury: it's a baseline expectation.

[Image 3: Guest room interior showing bed, workspace, and modern amenities]

There's also a retail store on the premises. Think last-minute travel essentials, snacks, and those items you inevitably forget to pack. It's the kind of thoughtful addition that shows Encalm Hospitality has actually listened to what travelers need, not just what they think sounds impressive in a press release.

Who Is This Really For?

Round D Clock targets what we'd call the functional traveler: people who prioritize efficiency and value over frills. This includes:

• Layover passengers who need a few hours of rest between connecting flights
• Early-morning flyers who'd rather sleep near the airport than risk Delhi traffic at 4 AM
• Road-trippers traveling through Delhi who need a convenient stop
• Business travelers on quick turnarounds who don't need a five-star experience
• Budget-conscious tourists who want clean, safe accommodation without paying for amenities they won't use

The dormitory option particularly opens this up to younger travelers, backpackers, and students: a demographic that's often underserved in India's airport hospitality landscape.

The Bigger Picture

What excites us about Round D Clock isn't just the property itself: it's what it represents for India's evolving hospitality sector.

[Image 4: Common area or amenity space showing modern design and facilities]

For years, we've watched international brands dominate the airport hotel space with cookie-cutter properties that cost ₹8,000+ per night. Meanwhile, budget options often meant compromising on cleanliness, safety, or basic comfort. The middle ground: affordable, efficient, traveler-focused spaces: has been strangely absent.

Encalm Hospitality is proving there's both demand and opportunity in this segment. The 24/7 operational model, flexible stay durations, and mix of accommodation types show a brand that's genuinely thinking about modern travel patterns rather than forcing outdated hotel models onto contemporary needs.

The Location Advantage

Being 10 minutes from Terminal 3 isn't just convenient: it's strategic. IGI Airport handles millions of passengers annually, many of whom face long layovers, early departures, or late arrivals. Having a proper rest-and-refresh option this close, without the premium airport hotel price tag, fills a genuine market gap.

For international travelers arriving late at night, Round D Clock offers a nearby option to decompress before tackling Delhi. For domestic travelers catching early flights, it eliminates the stress of pre-dawn commutes through unpredictable city traffic.

What This Means for Indian Hospitality

Round D Clock represents a shift we've been anticipating: hospitality becoming more modular, flexible, and user-centric. The rigid structures of traditional hotels (check-in at 2 PM, check-out at 11 AM, minimum one-night stay) are increasingly misaligned with how people actually travel today.

We're seeing this globally with brands like YOTEL and CitizenM, but India has been slow to adopt these models. Encalm Hospitality's move suggests that's changing. As travel patterns become more complex: with more connecting flights, work-from-anywhere lifestyles, and spontaneous trips: the hospitality industry needs to evolve accordingly.

The motel-inspired approach also acknowledges something important: not every traveler wants or needs a full hotel experience. Sometimes you just need a clean room, a hot shower, and decent food. There's dignity in that simplicity, and there's certainly a market for it.

The Road Ahead

Round D Clock is a test case. If it succeeds: and we suspect it will: expect to see similar concepts pop up near other major airports across India. Mumbai, Bengaluru, and Hyderabad are obvious next targets, all with airports that see massive passenger volumes and could benefit from this kind of flexible, mid-range offering.

What makes us optimistic is that Encalm Hospitality seems to understand their audience. They're not trying to be luxurious. They're trying to be useful. And in hospitality, usefulness often beats luxury when it comes to building loyal, repeat customers.

The inclusion of accessibility features, the drive-thru option, the mix of room types: these aren't flashy additions, but they're thoughtful ones. They suggest a brand that's done its homework and built a property around actual traveler needs rather than assumptions.

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Round D Clock may not revolutionize hospitality overnight, but it's filling a gap that's been gaping for far too long. For travelers tired of choosing between overpriced airport hotels and sketchy budget options, this represents a genuine third path: one that respects both your wallet and your need for comfort.

As India's travel infrastructure continues to evolve, we need more brands willing to experiment like this. Not every innovation needs to be groundbreaking. Sometimes, it just needs to be smartly executed and genuinely useful. Round D Clock is both.