Tamil Nadu - Pondicherry   

Hotels cancel New Year parties

By Deepa H. Ramakrishnan

PONDICHERRY, DEC. 27. Some of the hotels in Pondicherry have decided to cancel the New Year parties in the wake of Sunday's disaster, despite spending money on advertising, pamphlets and selling tickets. They are calling up customers and telling them that the parties have been cancelled. The hotels are also refunding money taken as advance.

The hotels here net the most revenue during the New Year time as it is the tourist season. Last weekend all the 1,000-odd rooms in hotels, lodges and guest houses were booked. Those in the tourism industry put the total revenue for food and tickets for the New Year at around Rs. 50 lakhs and accommodation was likely to fetch Rs. 1 crore. For the Government, the revenue loss could be about Rs. 20 lakhs.

The hotels' contention: "After having witnessed such a huge calamity, it will not be a very happy new year."

Hotel Ananda Inn and Annamalai International have cancelled their parties. The government-run beach resort Hotel Pondicherry Ashok has been extensively damaged in the tsunami. Its general manager, Sitesh Srivastav, told The Hindu that "our rooms, restaurant, bar and furniture have to be rebuilt and it will take time."

Anand Ganesh, marketing manager, Ananda Inn, said that 50 tickets were sold for the party. "The hotel has spent about Rs. 50,000 to Rs. 60,000 on publicity but has decided to forego that." The hotel has given Rs. 25,000 to the Chief Minister's relief fund.

Muthuraj, assistant manager (sales and marketing), Annamalai International, said the hotel had planned a programme on its rooftop but has dropped it. "We are calling up our customers in far away places and informing about the cancellation of the programme and also about the Government's warning not to venture to coastal areas."

However, others like Dupleix would be holding New Year parties. A meeting of the Pondicherry Hoteliers Association has been called to discuss cancellation of New Year parties in hotels.

Printer friendly page  
Send this article to Friends by E-Mail

Tamil Nadu

News: Front Page | National | Tamil Nadu | Andhra Pradesh | Karnataka | Kerala | New Delhi | Other States | International | Opinion | Business | Sport | Miscellaneous | Engagements |
Advts: Classifieds | Employment | Updates: Breaking News |

Stories in this Section

Hotels cancel New Year parties

Copyright © 2004, The Hindu. Republication or redissemination of the contents of this screen are expressly prohibited without the written consent of The Hindu