This year's wedding season is proving exceptional for the hospitality industry, with luxury hotels across India witnessing high demand and full bookings. International chains like Shangri-La, Radisson, Hyatt, and Hilton are launching specialized wedding services to cater to the growing trend of destination weddings. Major properties, including Noormahal Palace and Wyndham locations, are fully booked for auspicious dates in November and December. Hotels are introducing tailored packages, resulting in increased rates and high occupancy. With more than 4.8 million weddings expected across the country, the industry is set to see significant growth this season.
This year is set to be a remarkable wedding season for hotels, with numerous prestigious properties already fully booked or reaching capacity for sought-after dates. Major international hotel chains are responding to the growing trend by debuting specialized offerings designed specifically for Indian weddings.
The Shangri-La Group, with properties in Delhi and Bengaluru, forecasts hosting between 250 and 800 weddings this season, as shared by Chris McFall, Vice President of Sales for the Middle East, Europe, India, and the Americas. He highlighted that weddings constitute over 50% of their banqueting business in India, a figure that continues to rise each year. To address the increasing demand for local and international wedding venues, the group has teamed up with leading suppliers to launch a comprehensive wedding service dubbed Bandhan, which also covers their locations in Istanbul, Muscat, and Sri Lanka.
Manbeer Choudhary, Chairman and Managing Director of Jewel Classic Hotel, noted that the five-star Noormahal Palace Hotel in Karnal is fully booked for all auspicious dates until March. Furthermore, the Confederation of All India Traders (CAIT) estimated that approximately 4.8 million weddings are set to take place across the country during November and December.
Nikhil Sharma, Managing Director and Area Senior Vice President for South Asia at Radisson Hotel Group, reported nearly 100 weddings are already booked for November, with around 250 events scheduled between November and December. He pointed to a 20-25% increase in rates for popular destinations like Udaipur and Goa, predicting high demand for luxury wedding venues that may lead to sold-out situations. In response to this growing interest, the group plans to introduce a dedicated wedding concept at its hotels, providing couples with a unique one-stop destination experience that stands out in the market.
Kadambini Mittal, Regional Vice President for Commercial at Hyatt India Consultancy, shared that the wedding business is projected to grow by 25% in 2024. Meanwhile, bookings at Hilton have surged nearly 22% compared to the previous year, according to Manish Tolani, Vice President and Commercial Director for South Asia at Hilton. He emphasized the strong demand for weekends, even beyond the traditional auspicious dates, and the hotel's effort to offer customized menus through dedicated wedding specialists and chefs from their global properties.
Many Wyndham locations-specifically in Lucknow, Gurugram, Udaipur, Kochi, Jaipur, and Mohali-are either fully booked or experiencing significant occupancy during the auspicious dates of November and December, as stated by Sakshi Sehdev Dogra, Head of Sales and Marketing for Eurasia at Wyndham.
As the wedding season draws near, hotels are strategically refining their offerings to meet the increasing demand. With innovative packages and high occupancy rates, the hospitality sector stands to gain significantly, underscoring the enduring allure of destination weddings in India. This trend not only highlights the evolving wedding landscape but also reflects the adaptability of hotels in catering to the dreams of marrying couples.
Advertisement
Facebook
Whatsapp
