Business travellers' hub welcomes increased footfall after easing of curbs

On a Sunday afternoon, groom-to-be Siddharth Mishra is lounging at a hotel lobby in Aerocity, with his kin and kin in tow. Mishra, a resident of Ahmedabad who is getting married in two days in New Delhi, has opted to stay at a popular destination that is crawling back to business as usual.

A stone’s throw from the Indira Gandhi International airport, Aerocity was designed especially for travellers arriving in the national capital for a layover or for work. Packed with a range of 5-star hotels, cafés and clubs, the place not only spells comfort and ease as a transit space for travellers but also as a hospitality hub for locals from Delhi and Gurugram.

However, two years of the pandemic have had a major impact on the economy of the place, with many hotels left with unoccupied rooms despite slashed rates and cafés and restaurants mostly remaining vacant.

But with the easing of travel restrictions and regular international flights resuming late last month, hotels and cafés are seeing more footfall than before.

At Central Mall in Worldmark 3, walk-ins have grown in the past few months.

“Most people here are just browsing and not everyone buys, but it’s better than before. We do get some sales, especially from international travelers who are picking up things for their families and friends and don’t like shopping at the airport,” says a salesperson at the mall that houses several fashion outlets.

Across the road at Roseate House, seven groups of people are waiting to check in. The upscale hotel is sold out for the night, as it has been since mid-March.

Shubhangi Gupta, a guest relation associate at the hotel, says the room tariff, which had dropped to Rs 5,500 (exclusive of taxes) in January, is now up to Rs 9,500.

“From 20-30 per cent occupancy till two months ago, we have now come to a stage where rooms are sold out almost every night. With international flights opening up, overseas clientele at the hotel has also grown in number,” she adds.

At the JW Mariott Hotel, occupancy is up to 60 per cent now, mostly driven by domestic demand. On Sunday, the banquet halls are fully booked as they simultaneously host a wedding, a birthday party and a conference of an Indian multinational company.

“We’re seeing more domestic customers, while international tourists are beginning to trickle in slowly. Among domestic customers, most people are here on business. But we also have some locals staying with us since it’s a long weekend,” says Shahnawaz Khan, who works in the F&B section at the establishment.

The tariffs at the hotel were around Rs 15,000 a night in January. Now, they are up to Rs 17,000, says a staffer.

A skip across, at Novotel, the number of international guests has increased.

Elisias, asking to be identified only by the first name, has come from Finland to Delhi for a work related trip. “I arrived in the morning and will be at the hotel for two days. But before I head back to Finland, I will be taking a short trip to Agra to see the Taj Mahal,” he says.

At Novotel, the occupancy levels are anywhere between 80 and 100 per cent. The banquet halls are also fully booked, says an employee.

Outside, Aman Sharma, who works at his father’s law firm in Mumbai, is waiting for a cab. In the city for five days, he chose to stay at Aerocity for its proximity to his place of work in Gurugram.

“I prefer staying here rather than in the city centre, as it helps avoid traffic. It is also so much quieter and peaceful,” he says.

For Jay Ghosh, a banker from Kolkata, Aerocity is the definition of comfort. “Everything that you need on a short trip is within walking distance — from a convenience store to a coffee place to really good restaurants,” he says.

“I’ve always liked the vibe of this place and look forward to coming to Delhi. Now that I’m here after two years, I plan to stay for a bit longer and catch up with some friends,” he adds as he heads out for lunch at Smoke House Deli, two buildings away at The Walk — an avenue lined with cafés.

The Beer Café is buzzing with the chatter of customers long denied social get-togethers, now guzzling away with friends.

“I just wanted to take a trip because I was tired of being cooped up inside for so long. So I’m here — staying at a posh hotel, meeting friends and having a nice time, before I get back to my job in three days,” says Taneesha Garg from Chennai.

Two stores down, at Underdogs café, walk-ins have increased by almost 50 per cent since December 2021. “Most of the customers we serve these days are business people winding down after a long day at work. We are also seeing many American, Australian and Chinese travelers,” says a waiter at the café. He admits a strange happiness at getting to hear multiple accents and languages after a long time. “It signals normalcy,” he says.

Jagdish (he uses only his first name), who plies an auto in the area, is also relieved to see the buzz return to Aerocity. “After working for 8-10 hours a day, I am able to earn between Rs 500 and Rs 700. It’s not a lot, but certainly better than before,” he says.

“I just hope things only get better now and we don’t go back to lockdowns,” he adds, adjusting his mask.
 

It’s something everyone in Aerocity would wish for.