Espire Hospitality is targeting a significant increase in wedding-led business, aiming to take the segment’s contribution to 40% and beyond of its overall revenue over the next three years. Weddings currently account for approximately 25% of the company’s revenue, with the hospitality group looking to strengthen its presence across established and emerging wedding destinations, increase average revenue per event and generate business across rooms, food and beverage (F&B) and event spaces. In an exclusive interaction with Hospitality Biz, Nitin Srivastava, Director of Sales-Weddings, Espire Hospitality, discussed about the company’s wedding business strategy, expansion plans and the growing demand for destination weddings in India.
The company plans to achieve this through expansion into key wedding markets, higher spending per event and a stronger year-round business pipeline across its ZANA Luxury Resorts and Country Inn Hotels & Resorts portfolio.
“Weddings currently contribute around 25% of our company revenue. Over the next three years, we aim to take this contribution to 40% and beyond, by strengthening our presence in key wedding destinations, adding more hotels at the popular wedding destinations, increasing revenue per event and building a robust, year-round wedding business. Over the next 5 years, our aim is to grow wedding segment significantly, with the goal of it even exceeding the room revenue contribution. We also plan to increase the average revenue per event by adding more value and increasing the ticket size of each wedding. This means offering couples more ways to include rooms, food, venues and guest experiences in their celebrations, while ensuring that each event is well planned and financially viable,” said Srivastava.
The brand is looking to capitalise on the growing demand for destination weddings in India, as more couples consider domestic locations for their celebrations amid geopolitical uncertainties and the government’s push to promote weddings within the country.
“The demand for Destination Weddings has increased exponentially, especially after the launch of Prime Minister’s Wed in India initiative that encourages couples to celebrate their weddings in India rather than look overseas. This initiative along with other initiatives by the government to promote domestic destinations have presented a great opportunity for our hospitality industry, especially as more couples explore domestic destinations for their big day,” Srivastava said.
He said wedding budgets have also increased, with families willing to spend more on personalised celebrations and guest experiences. While large traditional weddings continue to be popular, some couples are opting for smaller and more intimate gatherings.
“Guest lists may vary. Many of the families we work with still want that large traditional wedding but some couples are choosing to have smaller and more intimate celebrations. What they all have in common, however, is the desire to create the best experience for their guests and loved ones.”
He also highlighted the trend of advance bookings, stating that the company has already started receiving advance payments for weddings scheduled as far ahead as February 2028, reflecting the importance of early reservations, particularly around auspicious dates.
“People also book well in advance but I do believe that is important as the auspicious dates get sold out very quickly. We have already started receiving advance payments for weddings planned for February 2028,” he added.
Destination markets
Espire is positioning its ZANA Luxury Resorts and Country Inn Hotels & Resorts brands to cater to different wedding formats, destinations and budgets. Udaipur and Jim Corbett continue to attract couples, while Bhimtal and Rishikesh are also among the group’s key wedding markets.
“For ZANA and Country Inn hotels, Udaipur and Jim Corbett continue to attract couples planning destination weddings. Scenic destinations such as Bhimtal and Rishikesh also do very well for us. Couples consider these locations because they offer a distinctive setting and give guests the chance to enjoy a short holiday around the wedding,” Srivastava said.
The group’s wedding portfolio includes ZANA Lake Resort, Udaipur; ZANA in the Wild, Jim Corbett; and ZANA by the Ganges, Rishikesh. These properties offer different event spaces, ranging from smaller venues for intimate ceremonies to expansive lawns and banquet facilities for larger celebrations.
The group is also expanding its destination portfolio with the launch of ZANA Luxury Escape, Dehradun, in November 2026. “We are also exploring several popular wedding destinations for future expansion, including Jaipur, Pushkar, Dehradun, Sohna, Theog and select locations across Himachal Pradesh. These destinations offer strong potential to tap into the growing demand for destination weddings, as couples increasingly look for venues that bring the entire celebration together in one place,” he said.
Revenue streams
The company is looking to differentiate its wedding business through a portfolio that offers multiple formats.
“The biggest advantage that we have in the destination wedding market is the range of options we can offer our guests. Between ZANA and Country Inn, we have properties with very different settings, spread across multiple, in-demand destinations for weddings which gives couples a chance to make an informed decision based on the kind of wedding they envision, rather than choosing solely on the basis of destination or the budget,” Srivastava said.
The company is also looking to increase revenue generated from each wedding through customised experience. “We can also tailor the stay around the couple’s plans, with customised food offerings, dining experiences and activities that give guests ways to spend time together between wedding events.,” he said.
Managing the cost of customised celebrations while protecting profitability remains an important operational consideration. According to Srivastava, the company assesses event requirements in advance and tracks separate GOP targets for rooms and F&B.
“Our team plays a big role in making each wedding special. We first understand what matters most to the couple, then plan the details to ensure that the celebration feels personal while staying within their budget.”
“Careful planning and clear processes help us manage costs and use our staff and resources well. We review the requirements for each event in advance, including rooms, food, event spaces and other services. This helps the team prepare and reduces last-minute changes that can add cost,” he added.
Business pipeline
Espire Group is expecting nearly twice as many auspicious wedding dates, with a larger concentration in the first quarter of FY28, and is looking to tap summer wedding demand as well.
“Our focus will be on growing the wedding segment through targeted performance marketing campaigns, curated meets with wedding planners and strategic collaborations with leading third-party wedding portals. By generating quality leads well in advance and converting them into confirmed bookings, we aim to build a stronger base of business, improve occupancy visibility and maximise revenue across rooms, F&B and event spaces,” Srivastava concluded.