Maharashtra will now be a tourism haven for Oyo rooms

In a move to sell unsold rooms in its resorts, the Maharashtra Tourism Development Corporation (MTDC) is now planning to enter into a partnership with Mahindra Group-owned Mahindra Holidays & Resorts and OYO Rooms.

The state tourism agency is in advanced talks with the travel and accommodation companies. "We already have had two rounds of discussions with them. This strategy would help us in increasing our revenue and boosting occupancy,” Paraag Jaiin Nainuttia, MTDC managing director, told The Economic Times.

MTDC is planning to offer 20% of its unsold rooms to these firms under a revenue-sharing agreement. The MTDC is working on a strategy which is being adopted by hotels in India and abroad to boost occupancy.

Explaining the deal further, Nainuttia said, "They have strong technology platforms and larger reach which would help us getting more bookings." The deal is expected to be finalised in the coming months and the customers will be able to avail the facilities by next year.

The corporation had invested an amount of Rs 45 crore for the renovation of its resorts and for the expansion of its properties in Kunkeshwar, Nashik and Mitbhav.

Kavikrut, chief growth officer at OYO Rooms, says, "It's like tying up with any other hotel brand for us, but the difference being that government tourism corporations have really good properties in great locations and we would like to bring our expertise to sell them."

When asked about the pricing that they are working out for the inventory to be sold on third-party platforms, Nainuttia said, "We don't mind differential pricing of product, provided the partners invest in it."

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