As the market for environment-friendly events and conferences is expanding across the country, experts from the hospitality sector highlight trends and advancing technologies driving the demand for eco-conscious solutions in the sector.
By Janice Alyosius
In a recent discussion about Narendra Modi’s, Prime Minister of India, call to promote the country as a premier destination for weddings and events, industry leaders voiced their opinions on the infrastructure readiness and imperative of sustainability in event planning. With insights from experts, a multifaceted narrative emerges, emphasising India’s potential to become a global hub for events and weddings, while embracing eco-conscious practices.
India’s infra to host big events and weddings
Rajat Sethi, General Manager, Fairmont Jaipur, said, “India boasts a diverse array of venues ideal for hosting grand weddings and events, with Fairmont Jaipur standing out as a prime example. Rajasthan with its historic palaces, majestic forts, and breathtaking scenic beauty provides a unique backdrop for ceremonies and celebrations. The combination of Fairmont Jaipur’s versatile venues and Rajasthan’s allure creates an unforgettable wedding experience, seamlessly blending luxury with cultural immersion.”
K.P. Singh, General Manager, Le Méridien Amritsar, highlights, “India’s wedding market is estimated around US$51 billion, making us one of the largest markets in the world. In 2023, the country earned `4.74 trillion from weddings alone. At Le Méridien Amritsar, we are prepared to host grand weddings and events with our facilities and services. Our venue offers open spaces such as the events lawn spread across 5,320 square feet, along with meticulously designed banquet halls such as the Maharaja Ballroom (4,316 square feet), and Maharani Ballroom (2,509 square feet).”
Echoing similar sentiments, Rubin Cherian, General Manager, Novotel Hyderabad Convention Centre (NHCC) & Hyderabad International Convention Centre (HICC), said, “The recent surge in interest from HNIs and businesses underscore the allure of India as a wedding and event destination. With NHCC offering 287 inventories and the capacity to extend up to 200 rooms for destination weddings, we can accommodate more than 4,000 guests for large-scale events.”
Srikant Kanoi, CEO & Founding Partner, Ethereal Celebration Management, shed light on India’s evolution in event infrastructure. Delhi, Mumbai, and Bengaluru boast world-class venues, supported by the growth of the hospitality sector and government initiatives. Srikant said, “Incredible India and Make in India campaigns and investment in infrastructure projects contribute to the expansion of event hosting capabilities. Technology has played a crucial role; with digital platforms facilitating smoother coordination and logistics management for large-scale events. Despite efforts to enhance infrastructure, India possesses the necessary framework and expertise to host large weddings and events, leveraging its rich heritage and modern amenities to create an unforgettable experience for attendees.”
Promoting sustainable events and weddings
The quest for sustainable practices in events and weddings has gained momentum, with venues and event planners undertaking initiatives to minimise environmental impact, while delivering exceptional experiences.
Fairmont Jaipur’s commitment to sustainability through eco-conscious practices. “A focus area is sourcing ingredients locally to minimise carbon footprint,” Sethi underlined.
“By using locally sourced ingredients, we support nearby communities. This approach extends to crafting reduced-waste menus that feature live cooking stations, helping to minimise food waste during events,” he added.
To combat food wastage, the hotel has Orbisk’s image-capturing technology to streamline calculations and gain insights into food consumption. This tool has led to a 30 per cent reduction in plate waste by enabling meticulous portion control and efficient resource management within the kitchen.
To reduce single-plastic usage, Fairmont Jaipur has introduced paperless check-in and check-out processes, providing biodegradable wooden keys, soap dispensers, combs, toothbrushes, refillable bottles, and stirrers. Also, it offers amenities, such as five EV charging stations for guests with EVs. Waste management practices, including recycling and composting, are prioritised during events to reduce environmental impact. Fairmont Jaipur integrates local folk artists into weddings and events to showcase Rajasthan’s rich culture.
Similar initiatives are part of Le Méridien Amritsar’s operations as well. Singh said, “Our eco-conscious operations transform food waste into nutrient-rich compost, enriching the soil for future growth. Our in-house water bottling plant produces glass bottles, eliminating plastic pollution and emissions associated with traditional bottling methods. These initiatives demonstrate our commitment to sustainability in event hosting.” Stressing on sustainability being an integral part of event planning at Novotel Hyderabad Convention Centre & Hyderabad International Convention Centre, Cherian asserted, “We have eliminated use of single-use plastic and opted for biodegradable alternatives and glass-bottled water. We implement rainwater harvesting and recycling techniques for open spaces and conserve water resources. Solid waste generated during events is recycled into manure. These initiatives, combined with our dual solar power and water heating system and Orbisk food waste management technology, highlights our dedication to eco-conscious events.”
Kanoi shed light on emerging trends in sustainable events—eco-friendly decor, local sourcing, and sustainable catering. He said, “My colleague was recently involved in a wedding arrangement. The couple had opted for minimalistic decor using recycled materials and locally sourced flowers. They were served a vegetarian menu sourced from local farms. This reduced the carbon footprint of the event. They had an early dinner, so that by 10 pm the leftover food was sent to a nearby orphanage.”
Price sensitivity & sustainability
Sethi said, “Some couples prioritise eco-friendly options and are willing to invest more, while others are price sensitive. At Fairmount Jaipur, we strike a balance by outlining sustainability features in wedding packages and offering customisable options that allow couples to incorporate sustainable elements within their budget.” Similarly, Cherian acknowledged the varying priorities among clients as corporates prefer sustainable events. However, wedding guests sometimes prioritise affordability. Therefore to strike a balance, NHCC offers flexible packages with transparent pricing, aimed to make sustainability accessible to all clients, while absorbing any additional cost.
Clients are willing to pay extra for sustainability, but at Le Méridien Amritsar, “We achieve the balance by offering sustainable options without compromising on quality and educating clients on the long-term benefits of sustainability.” Kanoi said, “Local sourcing and mindful catering choices also contribute to cost reduction, ensuring sustainability aligns with clients’ financial constraints,” Singh said.
Market growth anticipation
In India, the market for sustainable preferences is poised for expansion due to shifting consumer preferences towards environment-friendly choices and awareness among young couples. This trend indicates a growing demand for eco-conscious venues and services. Singh emphasised there are several factors contributing to the growth of the market in Amritsar. “Firstly, with the addition of 500 to 800 new rooms in the hotel inventory of the city, there is a clear indication of increasing demand. The introduction of new direct flights to Amritsar shows the city is steadily becoming a preferred destination. The rise in inbound tourism, particularly from Israel, Greece, Mexico, and Chile, adds to the clientele base. The Government of Punjab’s investment in Amritsar as a tourist hub bolstered this trend,” he added.
While underlining the increase in travel demand in the past three years in India, Cherian attributed the same to MNCs’ expansion and networking needs. “While MICE is poised for 15 to 20 per cent YoY growth, demand for destination weddings is likely to stagnate. Leisure destinations, in India and abroad, may experience accelerated growth. At HICC, we are aligning our efforts, expanding our network, and innovating sustainable offerings to cater to evolving consumer preferences.”
Kanoi anticipates growth in the sustainable wedding market due to awareness of environmental issues, government incentives, and consumer demand for eco-conscious solutions. “As technology advances and sustainable practices become accessible, we can expect to see expansion in this market segment,” he added. However, he suggested that integrating sustainability into the core values of event planning companies and adopting certification standards to maintain accountability and transparency in efforts towards creating environmentally friendly events.
With the country’s vision to position itself as a destination for conventions and weddings internationally, the convergence of sustainability and hotels’ operations is vital to leave a positive impact on the environment and attendees both.
