However, room rates remain a cause for concern. “Even as things look better, room rates haven’t picked up and continue to be 18-20% lower than 2007-08 winter season,” Trident Hotels president Rattan Keswani said.
As per two companies — Leela Hotels, Palaces & Resorts and Sarovar Hotels — occupancies in Delhi and Mumbai are recording up to 75-80%. Gurgaon is said to be recording even higher occupancies, which on some days touched 90%. Sarovar Hotels runs several brands in the country, including Carlson Hotel brands Park Plaza and Park Inn
According to a senior executive with a hotel company, who did not wish to be quoted, post 26/11, hotels were practically empty with some even reporting occupancies as low as 40-45%. The economic slowdown starting September ‘08 and the swine flu scare added to their woes.
“Occupancies in the past two months have witnessed a huge jump and advance bookings for December are encouraging. Revenues per room (Revpar), a function of room rates and occupancies have increased 10-15% compared with the same period last year,” said Vivek Nair vice-chairman and managing director of Leela Hotels, Palaces & Resorts. Oberoi Hotels & Resorts vice-chairman S S Mukherji said Mumbai and Delhi in particular have witnessed an improvement in occupancies. “In fact, we have sold out all rooms in some of our properties in Delhi and Mumbai in the past few weeks,’’ he added.
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