Almost all star-rated hotels in the tourist hotspots of Goa, Kerala and Rajasthan are reporting total sellout of room inventory for New Year's Eve, even though hospitality rates for that period have been more than doubled.
Most of these properties, with starting charges of Rs 26,000 per night, accept minimum bookings of three to five night stays, with almost no refund in case holiday plans do get cancelled.
For instance, the cheapest room at the five-star Taj Exotica in north Goa costs Rs 46,500 per night (excluding taxes) during the year-end. The penalty charge for cancellation is 100 per cent. The average rate otherwise charged by the hotel, run by Indian Hotels Company, the biggest in the sector, is Rs 20,000-21,000 per night.
Vivanta by Taj has raised rates more than three times at its property at Fort Aguada, north Goa. The going rate at the property is Rs 35,667 a night, against the usual Rs 10,000-11,000 per night.
Mumbai-based luxury hotel chain operator Hotel Leelaventure opened 20 additional rooms and a new restaurant at its property in Goa, taking the room count to 206, with four restaurants. The expansion was done at a cost of Rs 100 crore ($20 million).
Morton Johnston, general manager, The Leela Goa, said, "Christmas and New Year's is always the busiest time of the year in Goa. We are sold out for New Year's; in fact, there is a waiting list on it. Christmas is also selling fast, with just a few rooms available."
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