Hotels adopt new tricks to woo more guests

NEED OF THE HOUR: Hoteliers are looking at more innovative ways to attract guests.

ibnlive.com is on mobile now. Read news, watch videos
be a Citizen Journalist. Log on to m.ibnlive.com NOW!

Top Headlines

Top Videos

Most Popular

• FM TUNES BUDGET FOR TAXPAYER, MKTS FACE THE MUSIC 

• Udayan's View: Budget 2009, a game of patience 

• A study in comparison: Education budget up Rs 7K cr 

• Face The Budget: Political response to Budget 2009-10 

• The verdict: CNN-IBN panelists rate Pranab's Budget  

• Reform hopes dashed, market watchers feel let down  

• I-T exemption limit raised | FBT rolled back | Taxes and you 

• Pranab skips two paras of Budget speech, apologises 

• Bengal benefits, Mamata and Pranab budget for their state 

• Income tax limits raised; farmers, exporters get sops 

• Watch: Dalal Street reacts to the Budget 

• Budget: Pranab's chance to create his own legacy 

• FM has done a fairly good job: Narayana Murthy 

• Budget to focus on social spend, growth 

• Education reform will be for all Indians: Sibal 

• The Budget That Isn't: Cyrus gears up for Budget 

• EVMs are tamper proof, says Election Commission 

• Watch: Railway exams disrupted in Mysore, Banglaore 

• Watch: Maneka writes to PM over threat to Varun's life 

• One-upmanship: Sonia, Pawar in foodgrain politics 

• Buy that big car: SUVs, petrol trucks to cost less 

• Life saving drugs, LCDs cheaper; Set-top-box costlier 

• Defence budget unchanged; Army gets lion's share 

• Minimum Rs 30 lakh needed to be called wealthy 

• TAX BREAKS, WELFARE SCHEMES IN COMMON MAN'S BUDGET 

• Common man gets a treat, over 15 schemes 

• Health budget up by Rs 4,000 cr, 6 new AIIMS in cities 

• Full text: Union Budget 2009 

• Bengal benefits, Mamata and Pranab budget for their state 

• Software industry gets tax benefits for one more yr 

Photogallery

Find us on Facebook | Join IBNLive community

Stay ahead with G-Talk Buddy | Click now!

Mumbai: Hoteliers are now feeling the heat of rising costs with falling room rates and occupancy levels, the industry is looking at innovative ways to rein in operating costs and improve check-ins.

With room rates and occupancy falling 10-12 per cent over the last two quarters, hoteliers are now going an extra mile to welcome their guests. From freebies to free air tickets and now even cash back deals to improve check-ins.

"Cash back deals for the first time in the hotel sector. We are giving 12 per cent cash back across all hotels - tied up with portals - most leisure travel bookings happen via portals," says head sales and marketing, Fortune Hotels (ITC), Abinash Manghani.

ITC hotels also has a welcome environment programme underway to save energy and has also installed solar panels in most properties for heating purposes, including drying laundry.

The Leela has gone one step further, as it plans to set up its own wind farm in Tamil Nadu and Maharashtra.

"In addition this year, in order to build our demand for the October to December period we also went international. Last year we didn't do any international communication and the focus remains we will keep the pressure on," says VP sales and marketing, Hotel Leela Ventures, Sanjoy Pasricha.

A strict control is also being kept on day-to-day operating costs. This includes adopting "just in time" delivery of food supplies and inventory schedules to reduce storage costs.