Andhra Pradesh - Hyderabad

Occupancy rate in star hotels may dip

HYDERABAD: Henceforth, it won’t be all that easy for any business traveller or a tourist to just like that check into a star hotel in the city. The hotels will insist on proving their credentials, even if it means some drop in the occupancy ratio (OR).

Virender Razdan, General Manager of The Kakatiya ITC Hotel, says that the hotel will not provide accommodation just on demand. Advance booking is a must and guests, belonging to the approved list of companies, will only be allowed advance reservation.

Others who want advance reservation will have to prove their credentials. This applies even to those coming directly to check into the hotel. Now the hotels are taking the digital picture of their guests and making them sign the relevant documents as a precaution. Are the guests feeling irritated due to enhanced security measures? Mr. Razdan says they are actually feeling warm and more secured.

Veer Vijay Singh, president of AP Hoteliers Association, when contacted on Saturday, said that there could be a drop in the OR by 15 per cent in the last quarter of the year, following the Mumbai incidents. The immediate drop too was substantial. Enhancement of security precautions in terms of implementing multi-layer screening, procuring baggage scanners, increasing the number of security men, and purchase of whole body scanners of large vehicles and four-wheelers would have a bearing on the bottom line of the hospitality industry. And, the drop in OR would add to the impact on earnings, which, of course, might be temporary. Mr. Singh said that there were 4,000 rooms available in all three, four and five star hotels together and the safety measures would not be compromised at any cost. Vehicles of not only the guests, but staff and contractors carrying grocery, vegetables, fittings and laundry would be subjected to check, he asserted.

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