Occupancy levels in city hotels up 75%

The hotel industry in Ahmedabad, which had shown a downward trend in the last two years because of natural as well as man-made calamities, has a reason to cheer. It has logged a 15 per cent growth in the last year.

Now, with Christmas celebrations on and the new year fast approaching, most hotels in the city are wooing customers with various offers. Occupancy rates in most hotels in Ahmedabad are over 75 per cent "" the highest in a couple of years.

"The hotel industry in the state has witnessed a tremendous growth in the last one year because of the state government's initiative to bring Gujarat on the world map. The business is on the upswing, a lot of NRIs (non-resident Indians) and NRGs (non-resident Gujaratis) are visiting the state," said Jit Bose, director, (sales), Le Meridien.

Le Meridien has recently taken over the Holiday Inn Hotel in the Khanpur area of Ahmedabad and the hotel has been given a new look.

"We are arranging for international dancers to perform on New Year's eve and will have the largest buffet and dance floor in the city. The ticket for the event will cost Rs 2500 per couple," said Anshu Mallik, F&B manager, Le Maredien.

"Most of the rooms are booked by NRIs and NRGs during the festive season. Occupancy levels are the highest between December 28, 2003 and January 10, 2004," said Vikash Sangwar, general manager, Westend Hotel.

"In the last one year, we have grown by over 15 per cent and our occupancy levels are fairly good," said Sandit Shah, sales manager, Taj Residency Ummed, Ahmedabad.

The hotel has organised a gala function at the poolside lawns along with dinner and dance. The evening will have a performance by disc jockey P For Pedro. The tickets cost Rs 1750 per couple.

Taj Residency is also offering a special room package which costs Rs 5000 and includes accommodation in a garden-view room on double occupancy basis, early check in on December 31, 2003 at 9 am in the morning and late check out on January 1, 2004 till 3 pm.

The package will include entry for the Enchate by the pool side and a 25 per cent discount on food and beverages.

Fortune Landmark, an ITC Welcome Group hotel in the Usmanpur area, is organising gala 'Dine n Dance' programme on the new year's evening. Inder Residency in the Ellisbridge area has decorated the entire hotel with a Christmas theme. It is organising a dinner and dance function as part of its new year celebrations.

"The hotel industry in the state has grown by 20% in the last one year because of the better political climate. Inflow of foreign tourists has gone up significantly," said Anjan Mehra, general manager, Inder Residency.