Hotels to reap rich dividends

With the cricket World Cup beginning this weekend, the travel and hospitality industry has reason to smile. Tour operators expect an increase of 20 per cent in their bookings from Australia, United Kingdom, South Africa and also within the country.

“Hotel bookings have already started and prices have almost doubled, especially for the days when there is a match. A hotel in Nagpur, which would normally charge Rs 4,000, is now available for Rs 7,500 and it is only going to rise as days draw closer,” said Sabina Chopra, co-founder of Yatra.Com.

Travel agencies are blocking inventory with the hotels for the last minute travellers as supply is getting dried up. According to one of the leading travel companies, when Kolkata was about to host the England-India match, prices of rooms at five star hotels shot up to Rs 18,000, only to be drop to Rs 11,000 when the venue shifted to Bangalore.

Hotels owners say the rates are reaching the pre-slowdown level with a lot of foreign travellers coming in. While for domestic travellers the peak season ends by January, for foreigners India is an attractive destination till March end. World Cup, which kicks off on February 18, is boosting this trend.

“Compared to last year, the prices during this time of the year are much better. Our room rates are between Rs 14,000 and Rs 18,000 and will stay till March,. Last year it was Rs 10,000,” said Rajendra Kumar, Director, Taj Vivanta, Delhi and former president of Federation of Hotels and Restaurants Association of India.

Some industry experts, however, feel the World Cup was not marketed well as it should have been to boost tourism in India. “Sri Lanka has gone really big on the event to attract visitors. Our World Cup campaign has no mention of the Incredible India. Although there is an interest from the cricket-loving countries, domestic travel is not that big for World Cup yet,” said Keyur Joshi, co-founder and chief operating officer of MakeMyTrip.com

In India matches will be held in Bangalore, Nagpur, New Delhi, Chennai and Mumbai. “The Lalit Suri Hospitality Group would provide special attractive offers at 24X7 restaurant and bars and would definitely see a good rush during the World Cup 2011,” said Vivek Shukla, general manager, The Lalit, Delhi.