Key facts
- Indian hotels are experiencing a double-digit increase in wedding bookings this year.
- Major hotel chains like ITC Hotels, IHCL, Radisson, Marriott, Fairmont, and Sarovar Hotels are reporting growth.
- Popular destinations include Goa, Jaipur, Udaipur, Agra, Nashik, Chandigarh, Indore, and Guwahati.
- Factors driving the trend include a preference for domestic celebrations and concerns about international travel safety.
- Hotels are enhancing wedding offerings and outreach to cater to this demand.
Indian hotels are experiencing a significant surge in wedding bookings this year, with many chains reporting double-digit increases compared to the previous year. This trend is attributed to a growing preference for domestic celebrations and concerns surrounding international travel, exacerbated by geopolitical events and rising costs.
Major hotel groups are actively capitalizing on this demand. ITC Hotels, for instance, is observing strong bookings across its luxury wedding properties in destinations like Goa, Agra, Jaipur, and Udaipur. Similarly, Indian Hotels Company (IHCL) has seen a 25% rise in wedding bookings for its Goa properties, with couples even opting for the monsoon season, a departure from previous trends. Ranjit Phillipose, IHCL's senior VP for Goa operations, noted that safety concerns around overseas travel are redirecting Indian destination weddings back home.
Radisson Hotel Group also reported double-digit year-on-year growth in wedding inquiries, with leisure and resort destinations being the most popular. Nikhil Sharma, MD and COO (South Asia) for Radisson, highlighted strong performance in properties located in Goa, Nashik, Chandigarh, Indore, and Guwahati. Mahesh Singh Jasrotia, general manager at Marriott's Autograph Collection Hotel in India, stated that their wedding business is over 25% ahead of last year, with some weddings initially planned abroad now confirmed for dates as early as August.
Leisure Hotels Group has witnessed a 20% increase in wedding inquiries and conversions. To further attract clients, hotels are innovating their offerings. Fairmont Jaipur has introduced 'The Green Kitchen,' a vegetarian culinary concept tailored for Jain and Marwari weddings, focusing on authentic royal experiences. Sarovar Hotels has established dedicated wedding studios and is seeing interest in emerging locations such as Chitwan, Pilibhit, Sindhudurg, and Mathura. Jatin Khanna, CEO of Sarovar Hotels, noted that weddings contributed nearly 16% to the chain's food and beverage revenue in the first five months of 2026.
While direct links are difficult to establish, hoteliers like Manish Yadav from Raffles Udaipur emphasize a clear preference for iconic Indian destinations offering exceptional hospitality and bespoke experiences. The trend aligns with Prime Minister Narendra Modi's recent advice for Indians to opt for domestic destination weddings amidst ongoing global conflicts.