India says 'I do' as weddings raise hotel bookings

New Delhi: Hotels and resorts in India are experiencing a significant increase in bookings for weddings in the upcoming season, with most preferred dates already sold out. Hoteliers attribute this surge to the Prime Minister's emphasis on promoting domestic tourism and weddings within the country. They anticipate double-digit revenue growth in the wedding segment for 2027.

Destination weddings and social gatherings that would have been held elsewhere are now being celebrated in India. ITC Hotels spokesperson cited strong interest in home-based celebrations, with properties in popular destinations such as Udaipur, Kolkata, Goa, Jaipur, Chennai, and Gurugram drawing significant attention from guests.

Sayaji Resorts & Spa Udaipur's wedding revenue grew by 77% year on year, with a 50% increase in wedding enquiries. Sayaji Hotels managing director, Raoof Dhanani, noted the growing demand for Udaipur as a destination wedding market. To capitalize on this trend, Sayaji Hotels launched a new luxury hotel vertical called Altara, focusing on wedding and MICE (meetings, incentives, conferences, and exhibitions) demand.

The first Altara property is set to open in Indore in October, marking the company's entry into the ultra-luxury segment.

Hotel chains such as Fairmont Jaipur, Radisson Hotel Group, and Raffles are also seeing increased demand for wedding services. Fairmont Jaipur is leveraging the wider Accor network to offer global cuisines and chefs at their wedding venues. The Radisson Hotel Group expects double-digit growth in the wedding segment for 2027, with most prime dates already committed or under advanced discussions.

Families are planning weddings much earlier, especially for large celebrations, requiring reservations of room inventory, multiple venues, and preferred dates well in advance.

Spending on weddings is also on the rise, with couples investing in curated guest experiences, destination-led celebrations, experiential entertainment, customized food and beverage programs, and highly personalized decor. Raffles Udaipur is offering personalized wellness programs for couples and their families, including Ayurvedic therapies, rituals, and hydrothermal experiences, focusing on creating a complete celebration ecosystem rather than just delivering a wedding venue.