TravTalk India Online Magazine
Raffles Udaipur, India’s first Raffles hotel, that opened in August 2021 on a 21-acre private island set in the middle of Udai Sagar lake, has been witnessing some of the busiest months with guests moving back to big, fat Indian weddings from intimate weddings in a post-pandemic world.
Hazel Jain
The launch of the Raffles brand in Udaipur has seen an overwhelming response from travellers since 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. Abhishek Sharma, General Manager, Raffles Udaipur, said, “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, and expect the trend to continue with Christmas and New Year around
the corner.”
He added 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 do not foresee a major change with respect to traveller behaviour in 2022. Safety and hygiene standards will continue to be a key focus area.”
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.
What will 2022 bring?
In the coming year, guests will still be looking forward to private culinary affairs and curated tailor-made 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 Q3 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.”
The 101-key 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. The hotel has hosted multiple corporate events for business founders, owners, and YPO, members and will be playing host to private equity board meetings as well. “We are highly focused 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,” he adds.
