Chennai: August has emerged an exciting month for tour operators and hospitality majors alike presenting the opportunity of two long weekends - Independence Day this week and Ganesh Chaturthi during the month-end.
City hotels and travel agents have come up with bargain rates and lucrative fares to get Chennai folks into spending mode. “We have seen the weekend planning trend come up in the last one year when customers are willing to try out short breaks of 4-5 days to both domestic and international locations,” said Ms Shibani Phadkar, senior VP of Thomas Cook India.
But with 2014 presenting 17 occasions when one can prolong the weekend to four or even five days by taking just one or two days off from work and combining it with holidays, tour operators have charted out a good plan to make more out of the situation.
We are expecting a 20 per cent increase in the traffic going by the current trend of people planning one long break and two short breaks in a year, she said. In line with the monsoon season, the firm has lined up exciting packages to Kerala, the northeast and Madhya Pradesh. Hotels have also slashed down their room rents up to 15 per cent for the period.
“We are hoping a 15-20 per cent increase in bookings during these long weekends by attracting local and people from nearby catchment areas,” said Mr Ian Dubier, GM of Taj Club House.
The group has come up with attractive rates across all its hotels along with complimentary spa and salon services across all its major hotels in the city. “We are even offering a free baby-sitting service to help young couples,” he added. With hotel rooms supply in Chennai market almost doubling in the last two years, there is tough fight among city hotels to maintain an average occupancy rate of 55 per cent.
- In line with the monsoon season, a tour operator has lined up exciting packages to Kerala, the northeast and Madhya Pradesh
- Hotels slashed down their room rents up by 15 per cent for the festive period
- There is tough fight among city hotels to maintain an average occupancy rate of 55 per cent
