KOCHI: The hospitality sector has been worst hit by the demonetisation drive as customers are discretionary in spending. But it seems the luxury hoteliers and homestays in the financial hub of the Gods Own Country are laughing all the way to bank, thanks to the Indian Super League title clash, Kochi Muziris Biennale, and the doctors’ conference being held in Kochi.
The ISL title clash scheduled to be held on Sunday has brought a big relief to the cash-strapped hoteliers in Kochi as all the star hotels and homestays in the city are fully occupied. Speaking to ‘Express, G Gopinathan, president of the Approved and Classified Hotels Association of Kerala, said the occupancy rate in all types of star hotels is almost 100 per cent.
“Though the ISL has attracted a lot of guests, VIPs, players, team delegates, officials to the state, rooms were almost booked in advance due to the 68th annual conference of the Cardiological Society of India held in Kochi last week and Annual Conference of The Indian Orthopedic Association, which concluded on Saturday. As many as 6,000 medical professionals arrived in the city to attend the conferences and we are struggling to provide rooms to the ISL guests,” said Jose Dominic of Casino Hotel.
According to M P Sivadathan, director of the Kerala Homestay and Tourism Society, there are around 70 approved and 230 unapproved homestays in Kochi. Almost all the homestays are fully occupied thanks to the Kochi Muziris Biennale.
“We are expecting a windfall till February-end as guests from around 30 countries are flocking to Kochi to attend the event,” he said. The only thing that worries the homestay owners is the hyperactive nature of Keralites who will kick up a storm in the social media over small issues. We have lost considerable business in the past due to such undesirable controversies,” he said.
According to Jose Pradeep, treasurer of AACHK, there are around 40 star hotels in Kochi which can accommodate more than 2,000 guests at a given time. In the off season, the hotels will offer a discount of up to 30 per cent, he said. However, the rate of cancellations in the booking made for January has been very high due to the demonetisation.