Priyanka Saxena Ray
How important is the Weddings Segment for your Hotel Chain? What percentage of your total business revenue comes from Weddings?
The wedding segment has been a key driver of growth for WelcomHeritage, with its contribution to total revenue rising from 2% in 2023-2024 to 15-17% in 2024-2025. Exclusive buyouts and customization, increased Food & Beverage revenue, and income from allied services highlight the significance of the wedding segment for our portfolio. Weddings is a vital area for operational and marketing focus and future expansion for the brand.
What makes your hospitality brand special when it comes to hosting Weddings? What special deliverables do you offer to Wedding Planners that makes it easier and more convenient for them to host weddings at your property?
Our properties stand out in hosting weddings by offering exclusive buyouts, customizable options, and a variety of boutique venues ideal for intimate gatherings, aligning perfectly with the rising trend in the wedding industry.
With our diverse portfolio of stunning resorts, majestic palaces and forts, charming havelis and nature immersed retreats offering a variety of ‘perfect backdrops’, we provide the ideal settings for all kinds of fairy-tale weddings. Whether the couple is looking for a regal affaire or a dreamy ceremony amidst nature or even an adventurous jungle celebration. Further, all our locations are tucked away in tranquil settings to offer seclusion while remaining easily accessible to guests and vendors.
Our commitment extends beyond providing remarkable venues to offering exceptional service, a hallmark of WelcomHeritage. We understand the importance of individuality and therefore prioritize customization and personalisation – our teams take the time to understand the couples’ or the families’ needs and preferences to customise every detail.
We craft bespoke, all-inclusive packages tailored to specific requirements and budget constraints. These packages encompass lavish accommodation, gourmet catering, bespoke décor, and other essential elements of the wedding celebration. These packages are designed with flexibility in mind, offering cost-conscious couples a variety of options to create a dream wedding that fits their budget.
Execution excellence is our forte. Our seasoned teams specialize in flawlessly bringing every aspect of the wedding vision to life, ensuring a seamless and magical event for all involved.
Lastly, memorable memories are best created when you go beyond the typical – a philosophy we follow at all WelcomHeritage hotels. This holds true for weddings too. We encourage immersive activities and excursions based on the destination, adding an unforgettable layer to the celebration. This could involve local experiences or even more meaningful community-based activities that promote sustainable tourism.
Can you name a couple of evolving trends that you have witnessed in Destination Weddings in the last year?
While Intimate weddings and unique venues that offer a special character or story remain popular, there is also a renewed focus on incorporating cultural elements into the wedding. Couples are seeking authentic details that reflect the local heritage of their chosen destination. This shift towards celebrating local traditions aligns seamlessly with WelcomHeritage’s longstanding ethos of spotlighting destinations and their unique cultural tapestries.
This emerging trend is seeing couples wanting to extend their wedding celebrations beyond the ceremony itself to add to their wedding narrative. They are increasingly drawn to integrating immersive elements into their celebrations, along with curated activities and excursions that offer a genuine taste of the destination to both themselves and their guests. There is a noticeable movement in the cuisine preference as well – from the desi and popular international dishes to those that are more well-balanced, wellness-inspired, innovative and local.
Eco-consciousness is at the forefront now, with couples increasingly opting for sustainable practices during their weddings. Our teams at the properties cater to many such requests from couples who fully embrace this trend, opting for locally sourced food, eco-friendly decor, and minimizing waste throughout the wedding experience.
How do you keep the sustainability quotient relevant while hosting destination weddings at your properties?
- Minimizing our environmental impact has been a critical part of our agenda and operations, even when hosting destination weddings. Besides following good practices at across WelcomHeritage properties, we try to reduce our carbon footprint and promote sustainability by:
- Using fresh, locally sourced ingredients in our wedding menus. This reduces our also supports local farmers and offers guests a taste of the region.
- Working with the couple and vendors to incorporate eco-friendly decor options. This could involve using recycled materials, locally sourced flowers, and minimizing single-use plastics.
- Encouraging and favouring options that promote responsible tourism when curating activities and excursions for wedding guests. This may include supporting local artisans, participating in conservation efforts, or exploring the destination through eco-friendly means like bicycles or nature walks.
Is there any more information that you would like to share with us?
The trend of intimate destination weddings in India is expanding beyond conventional wedding venues, reaching the mid and upper-mid-segment hotel markets. And WelcomHeritage is at the forefront of catering to this growing demand by offering a diverse portfolio of destinations, flexible customization options, and exceptional experiences for our guests. We believe that every couple deserves a dream wedding, regardless of budget, and we strive to make that dream a reality.
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