Raffles Udaipur has been recognised as the Favourite Hotel for Weddings in India at the Condé Nast Traveller Readers’ Choice Awards 2025. The accolade, determined by votes from the publication’s global readership, positions the property among the country’s most sought-after luxury wedding destinations.
The award marks the latest in a series of honours for the resort, which also won Best Luxury Resort at the Travel + Leisure India’s Best Awards 2025 earlier this month. The consecutive recognitions underscore the property’s standing within India’s competitive luxury hospitality landscape.
Opened in August 2021, Raffles Udaipur was developed through a partnership between Accor and Indian businessman Ratankant Sharma. The property holds the distinction of being the first Raffles hotel in India and represented Accor’s entry into the ultra-luxury segment in the country.
The resort occupies a 21-acre private island on Udai Sagar Lake, accessible only by boat from a lakeshore pavilion located 20 minutes from Maharana Pratap Airport. In March 2025, the property expanded with the opening of Raffles Lakeshore Udaipur, adding 36 rooms and suites to bring total inventory to 137 keys.
Weddings as strategic focus
The resort has positioned destination weddings as a core offering since opening. Its venue portfolio includes landscaped gardens, lakeside lawns, a grand ballroom – described as the largest luxury hotel ballroom in Udaipur – private salons and an on-site temple.
Rajesh Namby, General Manager of Raffles Udaipur, said the recognition reflects the dedication of the entire team. “Being voted the Favourite Hotel for Weddings in India by Condé Nast Traveller’s global community of readers is a remarkable milestone for us. This award reflects the passion, dedication, and artistry of our entire team, who continually strive to uphold the legendary Raffles service and craft experiences of rare distinction.”
The property has accumulated a substantial collection of wedding-related accolades. At the 2023 Condé Nast Traveller Readers’ Travel Awards, it won Favourite Destination Wedding Hotel. The 2025 Distinguished Event Venue Awards recognised it as Gold Category Winner for Best Wedding Venue – Outdoor (by a Non-Sea Water Body) and Best Guest Experience – Stay for Events.
Strategic timing amid market growth
The recognition arrives as India’s wedding services sector experiences significant expansion. Industry research from Grand View Research estimates the market at $104 billion in 2024, projected to grow at 14.3 per cent annually through 2030.
The destination wedding segment shows particularly strong momentum. Grand View Research values this sub-market at $16.25 billion in 2024, with projections reaching $55.39 billion by 2033 at a compound annual growth rate of 14.8 per cent.
A WedMeGood industry survey for 2024–2025 indicates destination weddings now account for 26 per cent of all weddings in India, up from 18 per cent two years earlier. The survey found destination weddings command an average budget of approximately ₹51 lakh, compared with ₹36.5 lakh for local celebrations.
Rajasthan remains central to this growth. The state’s heritage destinations – including Udaipur, Jaipur, Jodhpur and Jaisalmer – continue to attract couples seeking venues that combine architectural significance with operational sophistication.
Infrastructure and sustainability credentials
Raffles Udaipur’s operational model combines heritage aesthetics with contemporary standards. The architecture blends classical European Palladian design with Rajput-Mughal influences, featuring elements such as decorative chhatris and traditional jali panels.
The property holds Green Key certification and operates an on-site water bottling plant and organic kitchen garden. These initiatives align with Accor’s broader sustainability framework and respond to growing demand for environmentally conscious celebration options.
The resort’s approach to weddings emphasises personalisation through the Raffles Butler service, a signature element of the brand dating to its founding in Singapore in 1887. Each celebration incorporates custom culinary programming and cultural elements designed to reflect individual preferences.
Outlook for luxury wedding hospitality
The property’s recent expansion and continued recognition suggest ongoing investment in the destination wedding segment. With India’s hospitality sector adding significant branded inventory – 42,071 keys signed in 2024, according to JLL research – competition for high-value wedding business is intensifying.
Government initiatives including the Ministry of Tourism’s ‘Wed in India’ campaign, launched in 2023, aim to position the country as a global wedding destination. The programme showcases 25 venues across diverse settings – beaches, mountains, heritage sites and cultural centres – to attract both domestic and international couples.
For Raffles Udaipur, the 2025 awards reinforce its position at the premium end of this expanding market. The property continues to balance exclusivity with scale, offering a private island setting alongside the operational capacity required for multi-day celebrations.
