Hotels in the metropolis are seeing a slump in bookings for this holiday season compared to Christmas and New Year last year due to negative sentiment prevailing in backdrop of the economic meltdown and the terror attacks on Taj and Trident here."There has been a 30-40 per cent dip in bookings in Mumbai hotels this time because of the terror attacks. Big hotels have suffered more as they have more rooms to fill," Hotels and Restaurants Association, Western India, Secretary General S M Korde said.Many luxury establishments in the financial capital as well as in Goa, famous for its New Year bashes, witnessed shrinking occupancy rates following the 60-hour long terror siege on the iconic Taj and Trident hotels on November 26.Ratan Tata-owned Taj and Oberoi Group-run Trident reopened their respective tower wings on December 21 after three weeks of restoration works.Taj had an occupancy rate of 56 per cent, with 150 of the 268 rooms being checked into on the first day, while the 550-room Trident registered an occupancy of over 16 per cent."We had 95 rooms checked into on Christmas eve (December 24)," a Trident spokesperson said, adding occupancy may have touched 110 rooms by midnight. "We expect room bookings at 20-25 per cent for Christmas day," she added.The sea-facing hotel, like most of its peers, is going to keep Christmas and New Year celebrations low-key this time."We have stopped everything this time, firstly because of the tragic incidents (attacks) and also there is hardly any crowd who feels like partying," Anand Bhatt, General Manager, Ritz Hotel, located at Church gate, said."Hotels in Mumbai have decided not to have Christmas and New Year bashes. They aren't rejecting individual parties, but the idea is to have low-key celebrations," Korde said. The hotel industry pegs the overall slump at between 30-40 per cent."Bookings are down by 30-35 per cent than what could have been (in normal situation). There is a 50-60 per cent drop in bookings from Indians and negligible growth from foreigners who make up for 30 per cent of guests," Bhatt said."It is also a bit of recession issue along with the terror factor. Goa, too, has been affected along with Mumbai this time, otherwise where's the availability in Goan hotels?"Travel Agents Association of India (TAAI), Member, Managing Committee, Sharukh Kapadia, said."Not just bookings, even hotel rates have come down. Those having larger inventories or more than 200 rooms are faring worse," TAAI, Honorary Treasurer, Iqbal Mulla, said."Also, the business that South Mumbai hotels used to get is now partly moving to suburban hotels or those in remote areas," Mulla said, adding many guests from Canada, US and European countries have cancelled their bookings.Korde, however, begs to differ. "Whether the hotel is sea-facing or one that is 20 kilometres away from the coast, it is still the same city. So, it doesn't make much of a difference when it comes to feeling safe."Industry players say it would be 8-10 months before the scenario in the hospitality and tourism sector improves.It will take around 6-8 months before the hotel business looks up," Korde said.Ritz is, however, hoping that the New Year would bring good times along with it.
