Cashing in on the festive mood

THIRUVANANTHAPURAM, Dec. 24.

COME DECEMBER and festive fever runs high in the city. It is virtually bursting with people on their shopping spree and ready for celebration.

But with the change in lifestyle of the modern generation, there is also a change in the mode of festival celebrations. It has now moved from homes to hotels.

"We want to give people a nice time," says a hotelier. Of course with a price tag. "But the people are willing to spend and they usually make it a gathering of friends and family. Women too can enjoy the festivities without bothering about the food," he says.

And what to they offer? "Stuffed turkeys, fizzy Christmas cocktails," says Casino Hotel, Turkey and cold cuts, says the Trident. The Avenue Regent has its offer of turkey too, so has the Renaissance.

The Taj Malabar offers the "finest food from all over the world, with Eastern and Western menu." And dancing.

The Casino Hotel is also organising a Christmas Ball on December 25 promising entertainment and fun for the whole family. In fact, it had a plum-pudding and turkey week from December 15 to 21.

Going by what the hotels offer they have just about everything ready for all the festivities that go along with Christmas. There is carol singing in one hotel while in another they have a band playing soft music for the Christmas eve celebration.

The menu for buffets for lunch and dinner are sumptuous and meant to draw in crowds. "This is the new way of celebrating festivals," says a top executive of a company. "One has to move with the times," he says. "Sticking to tradition is fine. Nothing wrong in having the traditional dinner in a hotel," he adds.

The bakeries of the hotels are busy churning up cakes to meet the demand of the consumers. Catering to many corporate clients, the cakes are a big revenue earner in the festive season, says a hotel general manager.

Be it gifts and games for children or the special feasts. The festive season has a lot to offer. For consumers there is a range of products to choose from. Be it cloth or cakes or decorations, Christmas is the time to celebrate for the vendors and the consumers.

Earlier it was family get-togethers during Christmas, but now the pace of modern life does not even allow such simple happiness, says Mr. Paul Alex, who is working in a hotel. "I will be spending my Christmas by helping others have a nice time," he says.

By Shyama Rajagopal

Send this article to Friends by E-Mail

Section  : Southern States
Previous : All set for X'mas of the new millennium
Next     : Iftar--for forging relations