While relaxation in lockdown gave rise to revenge travel, propelling further growth for the tourism sector, the hospitality industry is also witnessing a revival, thanks to the upcoming holiday and festive season.
“This festive season is extremely crucial for us and everyone in the hospitality industry. We need to capitalise on this pocket, on the post-Covid-19 rush," says Frans Westraadt, general manager, Six Senses Fort Barwara. “The demand is heavy, the domestic market continues to drive in more customers."
Conrad Bengaluru is clocking in north of 75 percent occupancies. “Especially after the last two years of Covid-19, this is a very pivotal season for hotels as it presents an opportunity for us to attract travelers and retain their loyalty," says Srijan Vadhera, general manager.
Similarly, occupancy at the InterContinental Hotels Group increased from 60 percent in Q1 to 74 percent in Q2 of this year. Their hotels in Mumbai, New Delhi, Chandigarh, and Kolkata have recorded over 75 percent occupancy levels. “For the rest of the year, we expect business to continue at a good pace across our hotels and brands in the region," says Sudeep Jain, managing director-South West Asia.
While a busy summer and monsoon season has helped the hospitality industry streamline operations and gear up for a strong winter run, players are also maintaining a cautious stance. “We believe India cannot stay fully immune to global trends," says Amruda Nair, founder and director, Araiya Hotels & Resorts. “Domestic demand recovery remains patchy, however, in the short term, with a strong monsoon and solid corporate earnings, the festive season is expected to see an uptick driven further by the depreciating rupee."
The travel industry too might be set to take off.
“This time around, festive travel feels like pre-pandemic normal," says Vipul Prakash, COO at MakeMyTrip. “We are definitely bullish about the growth prospects on the domestic and international travel front."
First Published: Sep 05, 2022, 14:04
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