KOCHI: The second edition of the business to business meet (B2B) meet organised for the homestay entrepreneurs by the Kerala Homestay and Tourism society (K-HATS) will be held in Kochi from September 1 to 3.“K-HATS organises homestay B2B every alternate year. The first-ever homestay B2B was held in 2015 and it was a grand success. The meet attracted more participants than we expected.
This is the only platform in Kerala where homestay entrepreneurs can showcase their property and services before a wide range of customers, travel agents and other stakeholders in the tourism industry,” said M P Sivadathan, director of K-HATS.
He said, the meet is different from Kerala Travel Mart (KTM). While KTM showcases services offered by major players in the hospitality industry, homestay B2B is meant to cater to the marketing needs of smallscale entrepreneurs who run their business from their homes.
These smallscale homestay entrepreneurs don’t know how to attract or find guests. In order to help them with their venture, K-HATS came up with this event. “Most of them are unaware about the vast possibilities that opens up for their business if they advertise their services online. This is because they are encumbered by budgetary limitations, inadequate exposure and lack of professional skills,” Sivadathan said.
According to K-HATS statistics, there are more than 850 approved homestays in Kerala which together offer more than 3,500-plus rooms of international standards. Homestays are classified in three categories- diamond, gold and silver on the basis of the amenities offered.