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It is that time of the year again, when the air is filled with festivity. The holiday season is back and after a gap of two years hotels are now gearing up for a busy winter.
In 2008, the global economic recession and the Mumbai terror attack had taken a toll on people's travel plans and this hit the Indian hospitality business hard. The winter of 2009, a traditionally peak season for travel, saw room rates crashing by 25-30 per cent!
But now that recovery has begun, hoteliers see a reason to talk of “buoyancy” again. “The business forecast for the upcoming season for our leisure hotels looks very buoyant, with occupancies notching upward of 85 per cent — which is approximately 5 per cent more than last year — and ARRs (average room rates) at 10 per cent more than 2009,” Hotel Leelaventure's Vice-President Sales and Marketing, Mr Sanjoy Pasricha, told Business Line.
Oberoi and Trident hotels are also upbeat about the upcoming season as both see their occupancies increasing by 15-20 per cent and 8-9 per cent respectively, compared with the same time last year. As the booking trend gets strong in future, both hotel chains say the number could change.
The President of Oberoi Hotels & Resorts, Mr Liam Lambert, said, “With the trend in late-booking the scenario can change in no time”
So, while occupancies were not a concern for hoteliers even last year, a breather for them comes from the fact that room rates and overall holiday package prices are looking up, especially in resort and luxury leisure markets. The Oberois are expecting approximately five to seven per cent increase in package prices over last year.
Holiday packages
For a two-night stay the ‘Trident Holiday' offers packages up to the year-end that range between Rs 9,500 and Rs 17,500 for properties in Cochin, Agra, Bhubaneshwar, Jaipur and Udaipur.
‘Oberoi Exotic Vacations' offers range from Rs 58,000 to Rs 64,000 for luxury properties in Jaipur, Udaipur, Agra and Ranthambhore. A 15 per cent reduction on spa therapies, hotel credits of up to Rs 5,000 per night, are some of the perks of the package that extends into next year.
A Taj Safari's two nights-three-day holiday starts from Rs 30, 000 and is valid till mid 2011.
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