Bookings surge fuels business hopes for wedding industry

Indore: The surge in hotel bookings and wedding-related services ahead of the post-Diwali wedding season has bolstered prospects of heightened business in the hospitality sector, notwithstanding escalated costs across the wedding industry.Industry specialists from hotel, catering and event services have estimated the wedding industry's value in Indore at approximately Rs 5,000 crore annually.They indicated that numerous wedding muhurats in forthcoming months and multiple reservations for individual dates are propelling growth in the wedding industry.Sumit Suri, president of the Indore Hoteliers' Association, said, "Wedding season appears promising considering the volume of bookings and enquiries in the industry. Hotels have already secured 70 per cent bookings on wedding days. Unlike previous patterns, extended festivities have resulted in increased occupancy for 4-5 days per wedding. Besides weddings, pre and post wedding celebrations have become increasingly elaborate."According to the association of Indore's hoteliers, Indore encompasses approximately 200 wedding venues and 100 marriage gardens, hosting 15,000-20,000 weddings annually.Representatives from catering and sound and light services reported receiving double and triple bookings on wedding days.Gaurav Soni, owner of a rental sound and light system provider in Indore said, "Bookings for November and December have commenced and we have secured double bookings on numerous days. The wedding season appears robust and is anticipated to invigorate the entire wedding industry."Industry participants indicated the wedding sector is flourishing with activity and expecting substantial revenue in upcoming months as wedding expenditure has increased.The heightened demand for wedding services has prompted a marked increase in costs for catering, venues, flowers, sound and light, and associated services.Rahul Goswami, a manager at a catering service in Indore said, "There is an average 8-10 per cent increase in operational costs compared to the previous year due to rising raw material prices and workforce expenses. Bookings are encouraging this season and we anticipate robust business."The pivotal wedding season has also generated substantial demand for contractual workers across the wedding industry, with virtually every sector engaging additional workforce.