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India says ‘I do’ as weddings raise hotel bookings

By Sohail Khan 12 September 2026, 12:29 am

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Business News›Industry›Services›Hotels / Restaurants›India says 'I do' as wedding boom sends hotel bookings soaring

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India says 'I do' as wedding boom sends hotel bookings soaring
Synopsis

Hotels are experiencing a significant increase in wedding bookings for upcoming seasons. Most prime dates at popular destinations are already reserved by planners. Enquiries and confirmed bookings are arriving four to six months in advance. Hoteliers anticipate double-digit revenue growth in the wedding segment. Spending on curated guest experiences and personalized decor is also rising.

New Delhi: Hotels and resorts are reporting a surge in bookings for the upcoming wedding season, with most prime dates at key destinations already sold out.

Hoteliers said with the prime minister emphasising on hosting weddings in India and travelling domestically, enquiries and confirmed bookings for the January-March period are coming in four-six months ahead. They expect double-digit revenue growth in the wedding segment in 2027.

Also Read: Hotel demand surges in September as BRICS, corporate travel fuel bookings across India

Destination weddings and social gatherings that might have been celebrated elsewhere are moving to India, said an ITC Hotels spokesperson.

"There is definitely a growing interest in celebrations at home," the spokesperson said, adding that ITC properties in Udaipur, Kolkata, Goa, Jaipur, Chennai and Gurugram were seeing strong interest from guests.

Wedding revenue for Sayaji Resorts & Spa Udaipur has grown 77% year on year, while wedding enquiries have increased by 50%, reflecting the strong and growing demand for Udaipur as a destination wedding market, said Sayaji Hotels managing director Raoof Dhanani.

Sayaji Hotels incubated a new luxury hotel vertical called Altara, focusing on wedding and MICE (meetings, incentives, conferences and exhibitions) demand. The first property under this brand is set to launch in October in Indore, marking the company's entry into the ultra-luxury segment.

Dhanani said forward bookings for 2027 have increased by approximately 25% this year for the chain compared with the same period last year, indicating stronger early planning and sustained confidence in the destination wedding market.

Also Read: Festive fever checks in early: Hotel bookings, room rates rise as Indians plan longer getaways

Fairmont Jaipur is drawing on the wider Accor network to bring chefs from hotels across the world for wedding celebrations to offer "authentic" global cuisines beyond traditional wedding menus, said Rajat Sethi, cluster general manager, Fairmont Jaipur and Raffles Jaipur.

The Radisson Hotel Group expects double-digit growth in the wedding segment next year as enquiries and confirmed bookings for January-March 2027 are also coming in four-six months ahead, said Nikhil Sharma, MD and chief operating officer (South Asia).

"Advance wedding business is ahead of last year, with most prime dates at our key wedding destinations already committed or under advanced discussions," he added.

Families are beginning their wedding planning much earlier, especially for large celebrations where room inventory, multiple venues and preferred dates need to be secured well in advance, said Mahesh Singh Jasrotia, general manager, Noor Mahal Delhi NCR Karnal, Autograph Collection. Jasrotia said the property is placing a greater emphasis on wellness and post wedding experiences.

Spending on weddings also seems to be going up year on year. Pratik Sheth, founder of Spotlight Soirees, said there was greater emphasis on curated guest experiences, destination-led celebrations, experiential entertainment, customised food and beverage programmes, and highly personalised decor.

"Couples are willing to invest significantly in elements that guests will actually experience and remember," he said.

Raffles Udaipur is offering personalised wellness programmes for couples and their families, including Ayurvedic therapies, rituals and hydrothermal experiences. "The focus is increasingly on creating a complete celebration ecosystem, from pre-wedding wellness and cultural experiences to bespoke culinary moments and highly personalised guest journeys, rather than simply delivering a wedding venue," said general manager Gurnoor Bindra.

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