Nuptials go extravagant
In a post-pandemic world, Raffles Udaipur, which opened in August 2021 on a 21-acre private island nestled in the midst of Udai Sagar Lake, is witnessing the return of visitors to big, fat Indian weddings.
The launch of the Raffles brand in Udaipur has seen an overwhelming response from travellers since it opened doors in August 2021. With an upward trend in domestic travel and rising demand for luxury and exclusivity among travellers, the property is witnessing an encouraging growth trajectory in terms of bookings.
Abhishek Sharma, General Manager, Raffles Udaipur, says, “The location of the hotel on an exclusive island has captivated travel enthusiasts. With the festive and wedding season in India at its peak, we have been experiencing some of the busiest months in terms of occupancy rates, and expect the trend to continue with Christmas and New Year just around the corner.”
He adds that a large part of the business is from domestic travel, with free independent travellers (FITs) making up a significant segment of the guest base. Celebrations have played an important role when it comes to bookings at Raffles Udaipur.
“Travellers consider us not only for luxurious stay experiences but also look at Raffles Udaipur as the ideal destination for celebrations. We have hosted several intimate as well as elaborate celebrations for our guests in the last few months. We do not foresee a major change with respect to traveller behaviour in 2022,” says Sharma.
Speaking about the well-being of guests, Sharma adds, “Safety and hygiene standards will continue to be a key focus area, and the industry will have to continue working towards ensuring the complete well-being of guests. Adhering to stringent safety protocols through the implementation of Accor’s safety label, ALLSAFE,
our teams at Raffles Udaipur have been trained to ensure sanitised stays,” Sharma adds.
LOOKING FORWARD TO 2O22
In the coming year, guests are anticipated to be looking forward to private culinary affairs and curated tailormade experiences.
Sharma opines, “Their fondness towards exploring outdoor activities in and around the hotel, such as local treks, mountain trails, and even cycling around the Aravalli hills, would still be on the rise. In the third quarter of this year, we witnessed a pattern where travel connoisseurs were opting for a minimum of two to three night stays at the hotel, which stands testament to the remarkable brand pull of Raffles Udaipur.”
“Nestled on a private island amidst the tranquil Udai Sagar Lake, the hotel has emerged as an undiscovered gem in the heart of Udaipur. We have observed that guests are choosing to get enchanted by the legendary Raffles service with longer stays, and we expect this trend to continue in 2022 as well,” Sharma adds.
The 101-room Raffles Udaipur has been witnessing high occupancy and has been quite busy all throughout the wedding season. It has hosted a significant number of weddings in November and continues to see the same trend lined up for December as well.
It has a grand ballroom of 9,000 sq. ft., including a pre-function area, multiple outdoor gathering areas, and an on-site temple.
With the easing of restrictions, says the GM, his team has noticed that the industry is moving back to big, fat Indian weddings from intimate weddings.
“The wedding season has also played a crucial role in accelerating the hospitality industry’s journey on its path to recovery in Q3 of 2021. Certain geographical regions have contributed significantly towards the boom in wedding business. During the peak season, we have received a lot of wedding requests and bookings from key cities such as Hyderabad, Bengaluru, Mumbai, and Delhi NCR,” he adds.
The hotel has also hosted multiple corporate events for business founders, owners, and YPO members and will be playing host to private equity board meetings as well.
Travellers look at Raffles Udaipur as the ideal destination for celebrations”
“We are highly focussed on creating tailor-made experiences for our well-travelled connoisseurs for everlasting comfort and absolute luxury. For instance, during Hindu weddings, based on the auspicious date and time chosen by the guests for the phere, we gift the newly married couple a reflection of the stars, when the universe comes together to witness their union,” Sharma adds.
Apart from soaking in enchanting views of the Udai Sagar Lake and discovering Udaipur with a fresh perspective, guests can also enjoy an array of outdoor activities such as temple treks, mountain trails with bicycle rides, Segway rides, and even movie nights under the celestial skies.
Guests can enjoy intimate culinary experiences such as a midnight barbeque under the stars or a private dinner at Belvedere Point for a gastronomic adventure.