It’s good to be king for a day, and it’s even better if it’s onboard the Palace on Wheels, India’s first luxury and heritage train which continues to charm travelers since its launch in 1982. The luxe locomotive, decked in imperial finery, has long been a time portal back to a world of maharajas wearing bejeweled aigrettes and drinking out of crystal goblets. This train is so beloved that it came in first place in a ranking of Condé Nast Traveler readers’ favorite rail journeys in the world for this year’s Readers’ Choice Awards.
India’s Upcoming Wedding Season - India Report
02.10.2024 - 06:19 / skift.com / Thomas Cook / Bulbul Dhawan
India’s wedding season is around the corner, and this year, about 4.8 million weddings are expected, according to a study by Confederation of All India Traders (CAIT). That could mean revenue of $70.4 billion.
Last year, 3.5 million weddings across the nation generated $50.7 billion.
Destination weddings will account for a significant share. “Due to social media, there is more personalization of as many elements of weddings as possible. Experiences continue to count, and there is an interest in exploring new destinations, even if weddings at these places cannot be held due to lack of adequate or suitable venues,” said Parthip Thyagarajan, CEO of wedding planning portal WeddingSutra.com.
According to the survey conducted by CAIT, about 1 million weddings are expected to cost INR 1.5 million ($18,000) each, while 700,000 weddings are likely to cost INR 2.5 million ($29,800) each.
But plenty will be more pricey: 50,000 weddings are estimated to cost INR 5 million ($59,600) each, and a similar number is likely to cost INR 10 million ($120,000) or more.
Hotels Witnessing Destination Wedding Demand: In the run up to the wedding season, luxury hotels are seeing an uptick in demand. About 1 in every 4 weddings at the Ramee Group of Hotels’ properties is a destination wedding, said Saurabh Gahoi, senior vice president of Ramee Group of Hotels.
“We are seeing a significant increase in the rise of destination weddings, especially at our properties like Udaipur, Bengaluru, Tirupati, and Bhuj. Couples are opting for intimate yet luxurious experiences with boutique resorts. Especially among young couples, there is also a rise in experiential events for pre-wedding events such as sundowner parties, poolside ceremonies, and themed decor,” Gahoi added.
The events at the destination weddings span for 3-4 days, and many couples are opting for a fusion of events to create a mini-vacation experience.
An earlier Skift feature on Indian weddings said that destinations like Thailand, UAE, and even European hotspots are eyeing India’s ultra high-net worth individuals as they know that Indian weddings are about more than just a few days of celebrations; they’re about extended stays, shopping sprees, and exploration.
Tata Group’s low-cost airlines Air India Express and AIX Connect have been merged to form a larger low-cost entity. The merged entity is set to operate under the Air India Express brand name.
Air India Express has a fleet size of 88 aircraft, and it is expecting to expand with nearly four new aircraft continuing to join each month. At the end of the current fiscal year on March 31, it is expected to have more than 100 planes.
In a statement, the Air India Group said, “The number of routes AIX operates has
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