Inspired By Royalty

JW Marriott Jaipur Resort & Spa, with its palatial architecture, is emerging as a destination for the troika of luxury traveller, destination weddings and Bleisure. GM Chandrashekhar Joshi analyses the business potential of Jaipur.

- Deepali Nandwani

Jaipur is a mature hospitality market. As a global luxury hospitality brand, how do you see the market evolving?

Jaipur is an integral part of the golden triangle itinerary and considered a (tourism) landmark as India's ‘Pink City’. The city is also a major MICE destination, besides being popular for destination weddings and large-scale conventions. Its rich culture and spectacular forts, palaces and Havelis continue to attract tourists from across the world, making it one of the top leisure destinations in the country. The luxury segment will continue to grow as people explore the destination not just to make a statement, but discover and define it for themselves.

As per CARE hospitality reports, in FY18, Jaipur witnessed about 7.3 per cent growth in room supply. Despite the increase in supply, the city occupancy rates zoomed to 67.3 per cent and there was about 6 per cent growth in average room rates. In line with the occupancy rates and ARRs, RevPARs registered about 10.8 per cent YOY growth during the year. Going forward, about 1,100 rooms are expected to be added to the Jaipur hotel market.

What have been the challenges you have faced in the Jaipur market?

The seasonality of the destination is a challenge. The business dips with the rise in temperature during summers, when Jaipur is not considered a lucrative or preferred destination to be in.

Which is your big revenue earner – MICE or weddings?