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<ul><li><strong>Indian hotels have had a long down cycle and it is now turning around, says <keyword id="6370083" type="UNKNOWN" weightage="20" keywordseo="Patanjali-Keswani">Patanjali Keswani</keyword>, founder of Lemon Tree Hotels.</strong></li><li><strong>Demand is growing faster than supply of new hotel rooms after a decade, according to analysts.</strong></li><li><strong>The changing dynamic in demand and supply may lead to a spike in hotel room rates.</strong></li></ul><br />The wave is turning for India's hoteliers after a decade of anguish. The number of travellers seeking accommodation is growing faster than the rise in new hotel rooms for the first time since the global financial crisis struck a lethal blow. And Patanjali Keswani, the founder and chairman of Lemon Tree Hotels, believes the turnaround may be so strong that hotel rooms rates may double in the next three years.<br /><br />"My expectation is from October this year, for the next two years -- because it takes about five years for new supply to come in-- prices will keep going up. Then,the returns (on capital) will improve and new guys will plan their supply because then it will be a business worth investing in. But it will take a few years for that supply to come in. I guess, just like how it was the longest bottom-up cycle for hotels in India -- from 2009 to 2017-18 -- it will be a long top-up cycle because people who invested in hotels in India in the last 10 years have been so badly burnt, you will need a very brave guy to take a counter view. So my guess is, if you ask me what the room rates will be three to four years out, I will say it may be double of what they are today," Keswani said in an interview with Business Insider.<br /><br />Industry watchers agree with Keswani. Demand is expected to grow at a compounded annual rate of 6% until financial year 2022, that's one and a half times the 4% growth expected in new hotel rooms, according to advisors at Nirmal Bang Institutional Equities.<br /><br />Even now, average <keyword id="7487693" type="UNKNOWN" weightage="20" keywordseo="hotel-room-rates-in-india">hotel room rates in India</keyword> are still 30% below what they were at the end of March 2008, according to Axis Capital, which also sees definite signs of a turnaoround. Hotels raise prices when the occupancy rates cross 70% and the industry-wide rate last year was already at 68%, Keswani explained.<br /><br />Lemon Tree Hotels has an average occupancy of close to 80%, according to Keswani. The company has already hiked prices twice in the last two years. "In October 2017, we got a 13% price hike (in average room rate) and in October 2018 we got a 8.5% on a higher base. We are expecting similar, if not higher, price hike going forward because now, there is clearly a shortage of supply," he added.<br /><br />
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
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<br /><br /><strong>What will drive the demand?<br /></strong><br />Aside from the slowdown in addition of new hotel rooms, Keswani projects a sharp spike in demand triggered by economic growth. <br /><br />"There are 3 parts of India. Half of India is earning less than $500 per capita- these are people who consume roti (bread), kapda (clothes), makaan (shelter), and mobile. Next 40% of India's population earns upto $2000 per capita. These are people who consume healthcare and education, which are non-discretionary to them, and some minor discretionary items- could be entertainment, leisure and a little bit of retail. The last 10% of India is upto $7000 per capita. This is the real consuming population of India, about 30 million households," Keswani explains, adding that when the economy grows there will be an exponential growth in the consuming population.<br /><br />According to him, if the per capita income grows 50% in the next seven years, the size of the big consuming segment will be thrice its current size. And that is the boom that the hoteliers like Keswani are waiting for.<br /><br /><strong>SEE ALSO:</strong><br /><a href="https://www.businessinsider.in/business/lemon-tree-hotels-patanjali-keswani-says-company-will-sell-stake/articleshow/68665953.cms" data-type="tilCustomLink" target="_blank">Lemon Tree will sell stake in all its hotels in 3 to 5 years: Chairman</a><br /><br /><a href="https://www.businessinsider.in/business/lemon-tree-hotels-is-eyeing-properties-in-new-york-bangkok-and-colombo/articleshow/68666574.cms" data-type="tilCustomLink" target="_blank">Lemon Tree Hotels is eyeing properties in New York, Bangkok, and Colombo</a><br /><br /><br />

Here's why hotel room rates  in India may double in the next 3 to 4 years

<ul><li><strong>Lemon Tree Hotels is putting together a unit that will be led by a chief technology officer.</strong></li><li><strong>The investment into technology will have three strategic goals, according to CEO <keyword id="6370083" type="UNKNOWN" weightage="20" keywordseo="Patanjali-Keswani">Patanjali Keswani</keyword>.</strong></li><li><strong>The company is looking to identify struggling hotels in buzzing locations.</strong></li></ul>Average <keyword id="7487693" type="UNKNOWN" weightage="20" keywordseo="hotel-room-rates-in-india">hotel room rates in India</keyword> are still 30% below what they were at the end of March 2008, according to Axis Capital. While waiting for an imminent turnaround in the industry, Patanjali Keswani, the founder and chairman of Lemon Tree Hotels is putting together a technology team that will be led by Chief Technology Officer (CTO).<br /><br />While the CTO is yet to be hired, the goals have been defined. "Technology will not be a support function, but it will be a strategic function and we will share it with Hamstede," Keswani told Business Insider. Hamstede Living, is  a joint venture between Lemon Tree Hotels and global private equity major Warburg Pincus, that will offer co-living spaces for young, urban professionals and housing for migrant students in Indian cities. Lemon Tree Hotels will have a 30% stake in Hamstede.<br /><br />There are three ways in which Keswani aims to use technology to boost his hotel business but this will not include internet of things (IOT). "You don’t need your phone to open your curtains. The mid-market customer does not want it," he said adding that,"I don’t agree with what a lot of these international guys are doing where they are spending a lot of money on what I currently feel are doubtful return on investments. You can have your cell phone doing everything in the room, but as a consumer myself that’s not a real delight. It’s going to cost me Rs 10 lakhs a room, but I am customers are not going to pay me even Rs 2 lakhs a year."<br /><br />
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
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<br /><br />So what is it that Lemon Tree Hotels wants from its CTO.<br /><br /><strong>Find struggling hotels in hotspots</strong><br /><br />The company has developed an algorithm that will analyse and project traffic in key locations using a combination of data on airline traffic, average room rates, and other such data points that may be a proxy to predict demand for hotel rooms.<br /><br />The next step is to identify under-performing hotels within a market. "We may not go build a hotel there. But if someone has 55% occupancy in an area where the others have 80% occupancy, then, we move to human side. We can talk to the owner to either lease the hotel or let us manage it for a fee. We think, with our customer base and reach, we can improve your performance at cost and revenue level," he said.<br /><br />At the end of December 2018, over 30% of Lemon Tree Hotels' rooms were owned by others but managed by the chain in exchange for a fee, according to research by HDFC Securities.<br /><br /><strong>Enhance the loyalty programme<br /></strong><br />A three-year old loyalty programme has played a big part in helping Lemon Tree Hotels retain customers. "I was astonished in the last five hotels we have taken under management, in three months, 20% of the hotels’ inventory has come from the loyalty programme. It’s an amazing number. Typically, hotels cash break-even (without accounting for interest cost) at 25% occupancy. If you include interest cost, the break-even point is at 40-45% occupancy. If in 3 months, I get 20% (from loyalty programme) which means you are at cash break even in 3 months, that too in a bad year. So, going forward, why would I not leverage this? We are going to invest more capital in our mobile site, in loyalty, and in technology," Keswani explained.<br /><br /><strong>Productivity and cost control<br /><br /></strong>How can technology help hotels save cosrs? "I have a call centre with 150 people who get thousands of calls everyday from customers. 80% of those queries are very, very repetitive and predictable. Therefore, I can put chatbots and reduce the headcount or improve the productivity," Keswani said.<br />
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
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<br /><br />The other leg of the cost control was to implement a management information system (MIS). "We have ensured all our platforms talk to each other through a middleware. How do I get real-time data to control costs, to manage multiple aspects more efficiently? The MIS will help us respond faster," he added.<br /><br /><strong>SEE ALSO:</strong><br /><a href="https://www.businessinsider.in/business/heres-why-hotel-room-rates-in-india-may-double-in-the-next-3-to-4-years/articleshow/68664363.cms" data-type="tilCustomLink" target="_blank">Here's why hotel room rates in India may double in the next 3 to 4 years</a><br /><br /><br /><br /><br />

India's largest budget hotel chain is spending on technology instead of discounts

<ul><li><strong>India's largest budget hotel chain is looking to take its brand to more international cities.</strong></li><li><strong>Chairman <keyword id="6370083" type="UNKNOWN" weightage="20" keywordseo="Patanjali-Keswani">Patanjali Keswani</keyword> reveals interest in properties New York, Bangkok, and Colombo.</strong></li><li><strong>The properties in the new cities will be managed, not owned by, Lemon Tree Hotels.</strong></li></ul><br />Lemon Tree Hotels is India's largest hotel chain targeting middle-income customers. And the company is looking to tap the international market for Indians who frequently travel abroad.<br /><br />Chairman and Managing Director Patanjali Keswani said that it is likely to close deals in the next six months to manage hotels in New York, Bangkok, and Sri Lanka and the talks are at different stages.<br /><br />"26 million Indians fly out of India every year. And this is expected to double in the next five years. These guys stay 3-5 days in the places they visit. Which is 100 million room nights. Two-thirds of them stay in 8 cities only- London, New York, Dubai, Bangkok, Singapore, Hong Kong, Colombo, and Kathmandu," Keswani said based on his findings.<br /><br />"Out of the 100 million room nights, 60-70 million are in these 8 cities. So, if I have loyal members why should I not have hotels in these cities? But I don’t want to put capital at risk. We said we will manage for others," he added.<br /><br />The company is betting <a href="https://www.businessinsider.in/business/lemon-tree-hotels-loyalty-programme-smile-is-looking-to-ape-jet-privilege-and-plans-tie-ups-with-airlines-and-retailers/articleshow/68669196.cms" data-type="tilCustomLink" target="_blank">big on its loyalty programme</a> to retain customers as well as for value creation.<br /><br /><strong>SEE ALSO:</strong><br /><br /><a href="https://www.businessinsider.in/business/lemon-tree-hotels-patanjali-keswani-says-company-will-sell-stake/articleshow/68665953.cms" target="_blank">Lemon Tree will sell stake in all its hotels in 3 to 5 years: Chairman</a><br /><br /><a href="https://www.businessinsider.in/business/lemon-tree-to-hire-a-cto-to-find-hotels-and-cut-costs/articleshow/68665032.cms" target="_blank">India's largest budget hotel chain is spending on technology instead of discounts</a><br /><br />

Lemon Tree Hotels is eyeing properties in New York, Bangkok, and Colombo

New Delhi, Jan 26 () Hospitality firm Sarovar Hotels and Resorts is looking to open 15 more properties across India by the end of this year, adding around 900 rooms to its portfolio as part of its expansion plans in the country, a top company official said.
<p> The company currently manages 85 hotels with 6,500 rooms in India and three locations overseas.
</p><p> "We are optimistic that we should cross the hundred mark this year. We plan to open 15 hotels across India by end of 2020," Sarovar Hotels and Resorts Managing Director Ajay K Bakaya told .
</p><p> The upcoming hotels will be mainly under the Sarovar Portico and Sarovar Premiere brands, he added.
</p><p> The new hotels will come up at locations such as Bodh Gaya, Morbi, Katra, Dibrugarh, Latur, Udaipur, Jalandhar, Dalhousie, Jagdalpur and Rajahmundry, among others, Bakaya said.
</p><p> "We are also planning to add a very large convention centre at Rajamundry in Andhra Pradesh along with a 100-room Sarovar Premiere there, as part of our policy of developing tier II and tier III cities," he added.
</p><p> Asked about the business model the company follows, Bakaya said Sarovar Hotels and Resorts is a hotel management company and follows an asset light model.
</p><p> On the growth roadmap for the company, Bakaya said: "We have now established link between our Indian hotel software and the French international platform. We now have a global distribution system (GDS) connect. That is a major plus for us to bring more business."
</p><p> The company's investment is and will be on technology, processes, design changes as well as on people, he added.
</p><p> Commenting on the growth of the hospitality sector in the country, Bakaya said: "The issue in India still remains the cost of capital. A longer time frame of 15 to 18 years for loan repayment at an interest rate of 10 to 11 per cent will have a very positive impact for the sector."
</p> Sarovar Hotels' three overseas properties are in Africa -- one in Zambia and two in Kenya.  AKT  ABM
ABM

Sarovar Hotels to add 15 properties across India by 2020-end

<br /> With India scoring 10th place in the <keyword id="52765" type="UNKNOWN" weightage="100" keywordseo="business-travel">business travel</keyword> market over the last few years, there is a lot going on for this niche in the travel sector.<br />
<br />
<strong>Increasing growth</strong><br /> India scored 24th rank in terms of size of the business travel market. In 2012 and 2013, it stood as the tenth largest business travel market in the world at travel spends of $22.1 billion and $24.4 billion, respectively. And as predicted by the <keyword id="1793400" type="ORGANIZATION" weightage="100" keywordseo="Global-Business-Travel-Association">Global Business Travel Association</keyword> (GBTA) outlook report, the business travel market of the country is expected to zoom to $28.8 billion by 2015.<br />
<br />
However, if we compare it to the usual suspects, China and US, we are just minnows. US heads the list with $275 billion in total business travel spend in 2013 and China comes next as it has leapfrogged and is now breathing down Uncle Sam’s neck at $225 billion. But there’s bright light at the end of the tunnel.<br />
<br />
<strong>Increasing business centres</strong><br />
One of the biggest growth drivers of business travel is the increase in the number of business centres throughout India, which is driven by the expansion of the middle class. This increase in new business centres in the country has pushed the domestic business travel spending and no wonder that the domestic segment dominates the business travel niche in India with about 90% spending.<br />
<br />
<strong>Young executive push</strong><br />
India has the largest percentage of young population in the world. China, on the other hand due to its one-child policy, is slowly moving towards the advanced age bracket. In India, the age group of 25-35 finds the maximum number of business travellers and will continue to do so for around the next three decades. More than 50% of corporate travellers in hotels these days belong to this bracket which contributes to well over 80% of their revenues. And this is largely due to changing lifestyles.<br />
<br />
As against older travellers, who prefer to stay in their rooms, young travellers often want to hit the gym or go for the business centres in hotels even during late hours. Their spending on foods and beverages is 20% more than that of the business travellers aged 40 years or older.<br />
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The number of business class air travellers has increased with the advent of a rising private sector airline industry. Similarly, a new phenomenon is emerging in India - chartered air travel.<br />
<br />
<strong>Challenges ahead</strong><br />
However, it’s not that all is hunky dory for India’s business travel industry. The travel directly depends on the amount of money or investment that both the government and the private sector are putting in new commercial, trade and business deals. And since in India, unlike Europe and US, most business spending is still indirectly dependent on government policy and government spending, the slow economic growth rate has stifled business travel growth in the last three years.<br />
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India’s business travel market grew just 5.8% and 10% in 2012 and 2013, respectively, and is expected to grow just 2.2% in 2014. China’s business travel market has grown more than 13% every year in the last 5 years.<br />
<br />
Coming to demand supply dynamics of hotel rooms, there is a paradox here. Hotel developers invested heavily and signed deals throughout mid 2000s till early 2009 thinking the period of high economic growth for Indian economy which had been going on since 2003 will continue. But, this expansion was restricted to the 7-8 major economic centres of India. And, just then, in the winter of 2008-09, the global economic recession hit. So, by the time the hotels expanded and new rooms were added till the financial year 2012-13, the demand had slumped due to lower economic growth in the last 5 years.<br />
<br />
Now, a fast pace of economic growth is expected in next 5 years with a stable and strong majority government in the centre. But this next phase of growth will equally come from cities like Jaipur, Nagpur, Mangalore, Bhopal, Lucknow etc. Thus, hoteliers will have to quickly create and expand capacity in these tier one and tier two cities, which lag far behind in terms of three-star and above classified hotel rooms.<br />
 <br />
<strong>Technology: the game changer</strong><br /> And then there is the underlying element of technology. An overwhelming majority, over 80 percent of the business travellers get their travel itineraries planned and bookings done through their laptops and mobiles with the latter growing fast in the last two years with mobile payment and banking becoming reliable and safe in India. And this is where Indian <keyword id="114406" type="UNKNOWN" weightage="100" keywordseo="travel-management">travel management</keyword> companies (TMCs) need to invest heavily in integrated business travel solutions.<br />
<br />
Such solutions will present options like air charter, business class special offers, group as well as individual hotel bookings listing facilities like high quality business centres and conference rooms along with fitness centres and restaurants/bars that the hotels provide for the young travellers. Thus there will be a one stop shop which will cater especially to the business traveler separate from general travel and tourism.<br />
Also, the interface of such IT solutions will be directly linked to the corporate clients, the hotels and the banks which will facilitate the payments. This will help both hotels and clients to maintain a database of business travellers in terms of numbers, costs, per room rates and expenses thereby estimating and managing future demand in a much better way.<br />
<br />
Hence, there’s no doubt, that a healthy dosage of sound business and economic policies on the first place, rapid infrastructure development in all major cities and an aggressive adoption of technology are the key to India becoming one of the top five business travel markets in the world by the end of this decade.<br />

Business Travel: Drivers And Speadbreakers

Mumbai, Mar 20 () Hotels in India are staring at a steep 20 to 40 per cent fall in occupancy rates during the three months ending May as lockdowns due to COVID-19 (coronavirus) escalate, a report has said.<p> This is two to four times the impact the industry had seen during the 2008 global financial crisis, India Ratings said in a report.</p><p> While the plunge in occupancy could be 30-40 per cent for mid-scale and two-star hotels, the same for four-star hotels and above categories could be 20-25 per cent for the next three months beginning March -- which is peak season due to summer holidays and weddings, the report said, citing the increasing number of cities going under full or partial lockdowns.</p><p> On revenue side, hotels under the four-star or above categories could see 65-70 per cent fall in revenue per available room, while for two-star hotels it could be 50-60 per cent.</p><p> "Occupancy rates across hotel categories are likely to fall to their lowest levels in the last decade, materially impacting earnings. The industry in general may face challenges in debt servicing. The crisis comes at the peak occupancy season due to vacations and weddings before the onset of the monsoons," the rating agency said. </p><p>  During the global financial crisis, the average absolute occupancy rates fell by over 9 per cent, with the highest fall being 10.40 per cent for four-star and above hotels, followed by three-stars at 8.5 per cent, it noted.</p><p> "If we consider the global financial crisis as a benchmark, the magnitude and the impact on the drivers of occupancy rate due to the pandemic is much larger," it said.</p><p> Markets like Singapore, Indonesia and Hong Kong, where the outbreak began in January, have seen sharp decline in occupancy rates -- much higher than seen during the SARS outbreak in 2003 when it fell to sub-20 per cent from around 70 per cent in China. </p> "A similar situation in India cannot be ruled out, should the outbreak continue and containment remain limited," the report warned.  BEN  RVK

Hotels may see 20-40 pc fall in occupancy rates in Mar-May due to COVID-19: Report

Imagine this! Expanding from 11 hotels in two cities to 7000 hotels in 2000 cities in a little more than three years isn’t an easy task. But Ritesh <keyword id="781" type="PERSON" weightage="20" keywordseo="Agarwal">Agarwal</keyword> of <keyword id="2808667" type="UNKNOWN" weightage="100" keywordseo="OYO">Oyo</keyword> has achieved that. Not just the growth in expansion, revenue has boomed as well. <br /><br /> Last year at annual general meeting of the Indian Hotels Company, Cyrus Mistry, the erstwhile Tata chief admitted that going like this Oyo may be a clear ‘threat’ to hospitality space where Tata owns groups like Taj, Vivanta, Gateway and Ginger.<br /><br /> Talking to the Economic Times, Agarwal said that Oyo will be closing $250-300 million round of funding from <keyword id="163404" type="COMPANY" weightage="100" keywordseo="Softbank">SoftBank</keyword>, which will take its valuation to over $850 million and a step closer to the unicorn club. At a time when most of the SoftBank’s investments in India are bleeding including <keyword id="541988" type="COMPANY" weightage="20" keywordseo="SnapDeal">Snapdeal</keyword>, Ola and Grofers, Japan’s conglomerate is expecting a big gain from India’s hotel aggregator.<br /><br /> Agarwal told the ET, that losses are a ‘part of investment’. What investors are looking at is also growth more than profits. They hate high burn rates but they hesitate to fund a profit making company with slow growth rate. <br /><br /> While Oyo seems to be the dark horse of SoftBank’s investments in India, it needs to be checked how it fares in the long run. Oyo’s new initiative <keyword id="4100346" type="UNKNOWN" weightage="20" keywordseo="Oyo-Townhouse">Oyo Townhouse</keyword> will cater to the upscale clientele. The Townhouse model, according to ET news report, will call for investment - an estimated Rs 3.5 lakh in each room, with each property having up to 20 rooms - as the company goes about setting up 250 Townhouses over the next six months.<br /><br /> However what needs to be seen if customers prefer Oyo Townhouse versus a Sarovar or a Lemon Tree. <br /><br /> Agarwal told ET that Oyo has more than doubled its growth. Its burn rate has come down by as much as 60%, customer service rating is at the highest, and losses have come down from Rs 496.31 crore in March-ended 2016 fiscal to Rs 325.26 crore a year later. The venture, he maintains, has found the right momentum, has shunned incentivisation as a long-term, customer-acquisition strategy, and has the backing of its investors.<br /><br />

This is how Oyo is becoming the dark horse of SoftBank’s investments

<ul><li><strong>India's largest budget hotel chain is looking to go asset light going forward.</strong></li><li><strong>The company will either retain a part stake or to manage the same hotels, Chairman <keyword id="6370083" type="UNKNOWN" weightage="20" keywordseo="Patanjali-Keswani">Patanjali Keswani</keyword> explained.</strong></li><li><strong>The stake can be sold to <keyword id="148003" type="COMPANY" weightage="20" keywordseo="pension-funds">pension funds</keyword>, insurance companies, or sovereign funds that seek assured returns.</strong></li></ul>Lemon Tree Hotels was already the largest Indian chain in the mid-market segment when the stock listed on the Indian stock exchanges just about a year ago. In the next five years, the business may look very different what it is today, according to revelations by founder and Chairman Patanjali Keswani, in an exclusive chat with Business Insider.<br /><br />The goal is to unlock value. "Broader point is, in the next three to five years, I will sell every hotel I own and then, either own a part stake in it or I will sell it and lease it back for a very long period with assured returns," said Keswani, who is an alumnus of Indian Institute of Technology (Delhi) and Indian Institute of Management (Kolkata).<br /><br /><strong>How will the business make money?<br /></strong><br />In some cases, the company will continue to own a part of the original stake. In the ones that are fully sold, the company will make money from the management of these hotels. "The new hotels, which are managed, I only charge a management fee. I, typically, get a seventh of the owner’s profit. Being asset light means seven hotels under management is the same as owning one hotel. It is a risk-free approach. We are right now very asset heavy," Keswani revealed. <br /><br />
  
  <div type="ExtQuote" text="So who will buy this- people like pension funds, or insurance companies or even a sovereign fund- those guys who want a long-term assured returns." auname="Patanjali Keswani, Chairman and Managing Director, Lemon Tree Hotels"></div>





<br />But he is not in a hurry to sell. "The question is the right price. If I am willing to sell my hotels today, I am sure I will find a buyer but I want a certain price, which is a return on my risk for developing hotels. When you develop a hotel there are multiple risks -- there are land title issues, government approvals, financing, my equity-- and so, I want a return. Therefore, I will not sell it cheap," Keswani explained, adding that the stake sale will happen only when the business cycle turns around.<br /><br />And by most accounts, the <a href="https://www.businessinsider.in/business/heres-why-hotel-room-rates-in-india-may-double-in-the-next-3-to-4-years/articleshow/68664363.cms" data-type="tilCustomLink" target="_blank">recovery is right around the corner</a>. <br /><br />SEE ALSO:<br /><a href="https://www.businessinsider.in/business/lemon-tree-hotels-is-eyeing-properties-in-new-york-bangkok-and-colombo/articleshow/68666574.cms" target="_blank">Lemon Tree Hotels is eyeing properties in New York, Bangkok, and Colombo</a> <br /><br /><a href="https://www.businessinsider.in/business/lemon-tree-hotels-loyalty-programme-smile-is-looking-to-ape-jet-privilege-and-plans-tie-ups-with-airlines-and-retailers/articleshow/68669196.cms" data-type="tilCustomLink" target="_blank">Lemon Tree Hotels' loyalty programme may open doors to new partnerships</a><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br />

Lemon Tree will sell stake in all its hotels in 3 to 5 years: Chairman

New Delhi, Dec 19 () NITI Aayog CEO Amitabh Kant on Thursday said the tourism industry in India should target USD 50 billion revenues by 2022, as the sector has immense multiplier impact in the economy and is one of the biggest drivers of growth and employment.
<p> Speaking at the '15th CII Annual Tourism Summit 2019', Kant said the tourism sector can be one of the biggest drivers of India's economic growth as higher visitor numbers spur employment opportunities.
</p><p> "It has immense multiplier impact in the economy. Its impact on the direct and indirect job creation is informidable. It is one sector which can greatly create jobs and that is what India needs, growth with jobs.
</p><p> "India's total earning from tourism was about USD 28.6 billion in 2018. We should target that by 2022 we will go to up to USD 50 billion,' Kant said.
</p><p> Moreover, in terms of revenue from international tourists, India has only 1.97 per cent share of the total global earnings.
</p><p> In terms of tourist arrivals (number of people), it is only 1.2 per cent which is very marginal for a huge country like India.
</p><p> "Therefore we need to take it up to 3.5 per cent from 1.2 per cent so that we reach the tourism revenue target of USD 50 billion by 2022," he said.
</p><p> On the policy front, Kant said that the government has supported the tourism sector and has reduced GST rates for room tariffs.
</p><p> The GST (goods and services tax) rate on hotel rooms with tariffs of up to Rs 7,500 per night has been cut to 12 per cent from the existing 18 per cent.
</p><p> Similarly, the tax on rooms with tariff above Rs 7,500 has been slashed to 18 per cent from the existing 28 per cent.
</p><p> There will be no GST on rooms with tariffs below Rs 1,000 per night.
</p><p> He also said that tourism is essentially a private sector activity and every single segment of the sector from the tourist point of arrival to point of departure, tourist operators, travel agent, tourist guides, cab operators, resorts to hotels, everything is operated by the private sector.
</p><p> He said the government can act as a catalyst and urged the industry body CII to work with industry and state governments and work towards a public private partnership for the tourism industry.
</p><p> According to CII data, the tourism sector contribution in India has risen to 9.2 per cent at USD 240 billion. It is the third largest foreign exchange earner for the country.
</p><p> It has supported more than 4.2 crore jobs, giving 8.1 per cent of the total employment.
</p><p> Chief Exective ITC Hotels and Welcom Hotels and chairman of CII National Committee on Tourism and Hospitality Dipak Haksar said the Indian tourism sector has emerged as one of the key drivers of economic growth.
</p><p> "Our strategic intent for India is to double its tourist arrivals from 10 to 20 million by 2024," Haksar said.
</p><p> Tourism secretary Yogendra Tripathi said that as many as 13 million jobs were created during 2014 to 2018 and the government has also rationalised the visa and e-visa systems to promote foreign arrivals in the country.
</p> However, he pointed out that there is a huge challenge with regard to tourist guides in India and the government is making attempts for their training and certification.  KPM  DRR

India's tourism industry should target USD 50 bn revenues by 2022: Kant

<p>When you're on vacation, some hotels will make you feel like royalty - and others will treat you like it.</p>
<p>These 21 opulent hotel suites are guaranteed to do just that.</p>
<p>Most are accompanied by a lofty price tag, but when they include personal butlers, pillow service, and once-in-a-lifetime views, you should make sure they get onto your bucket list.</p>
<h3>The two-bedroom Plateau Villa, Laucala Island Resort, Fiji</h3>
<p><div class="KonaFilter image-container"><div class="image on-image"></div><p></p></div></p>
<p><strong>Nightly rate: </strong><a href="https://www.yourreservation.net/tb3/index.cfm?bf=HLLW2850&amp;plprun=1&amp;_=1373959546685">From about $7,900</a></p>
<p>Imagine waking up, stepping out onto the yoga deck, and enjoying coffee or tea while looking out over Laucala Island's coconut plantations. It's not a bad way to live. More than 1,800 square feet of living space, plus an outdoor garden, bathing area, and dining pavilions allows guests to live in luxury the entirety of their stay. The Hilltop Estate is even more over-the-top , but available to stay by invite or application only - and will run you <a href="http://www.cntraveler.com/galleries/2014-12-12/the-most-expensive-hotel-suites-in-the-world/5">about $40,000 a night</a>.</p>
<h3>The Bridge Suite at Atlantis Paradise Island, Bahamas</h3>
<p><div class="KonaFilter image-container"><div class="image on-image"></div><p></p></div></p>
<p><strong>Nightly rate:</strong> <a href="http://www.mandatory.com/2012/10/12/12-of-the-most-expensive-hotel-rooms-in-the-world/7" target="_blank">About $25,000</a></p>
<p>Suspended between Atlantis' Royal Towers 16 stories off the ground, the <a href="http://www.atlantis.com/accommodations/royaltowers/bridgesuite.aspx" target="_blank">Bridge Suite</a> is the most opulent accommodation at the Bahamas' premiere luxury resort destination. Take in the views of Paradise Island from the 12-foot, floor-to-ceiling windows, and indulge in the suite's unique amenities,like the piano in the living room, twin entertainment centers, a 24-karat gold chandelier, and a dedicated wait staff of seven.</p>
<h3>Finch Hatton's Suite at Giraffe Manor, Kenya</h3>
<p><div class="KonaFilter image-container"><div class="image on-image"></div><p></p></div></p>
<p><strong>Nightly rate:</strong> <a href="http://www.thesafaricollection.resrequest.com/reservation.php?20+++++WB5+">From $1,130</a></p>
<p>Built in 1932 and modeled on a Scottish hunting lodge, Kenya's <a href="http://www.tamimiea.com/giraffe-manor/giraffe-manor-accommodation.html#rooms" target="_blank">Giraffe Manor</a> offers luxury bedrooms with antique furnishings, striking art decor, and just-outside-the-window access to a giraffe sanctuary. Other safari animals wander the 140-acre property, too - if you're so inclined, stop by the David Sheldrick Elephant Orphanage and sponsor a baby elephant before returning home.</p>
<h3>The Presidential Suite, Hotel Principe Di Savoia, Milan</h3>
<p><div class="KonaFilter image-container"><div class="image on-image"></div><p></p></div></p>
<p><strong>Nightly rate: </strong><a href="http://www.dorchestercollection.com/en/104/milan-italy/hotel-principe-di-savoia/room/presidential-suite/">From about $12,700</a></p>
<p>The three-bedroom suite doesn't just have a to-die-for bathroom - it has a to-die-for, Pompeian-styled spa, complete with a swimming pool, whirlpool, jacuzzi, sauna, and Turkish bath. While you stay, you can entertain guests in the formal dining room, make a drink at the bar, and cozy up by the real working fireplace.</p>
<h3>Provocateur Suite at the Hard Rock Hotel, Las Vegas</h3>
<p><div class="KonaFilter image-container"><div class="image on-image"></div><p></p></div></p>
<p><strong><strong>Nightly rate</strong>:</strong> <a href="http://www.lasvegassun.com/news/2012/oct/15/strip-villa-rents-40000-night-includes-private-gla/">From $3,500</a></p>
<p>Designed to evoke a sexy, fetish-oriented environment, the <a href="http://www.hardrockhotel.com/las-vegas-hotel/suite-tower/provocateur-suite" target="_blank">Provocateur Suite</a> sets the stage for guests to play out their most intimate fantasies. Claret red and shiny black decorative accents complement the custom-made furniture and dominatrix accessories throughout the suite - making this Sin City destination a thrill for even the most hardcore "50 Shades of Gray" fans.</p>
<h3>The Towers, The Waldorf Astoria, New York</h3>
<p><div class="KonaFilter image-container"><div class="image on-image"></div><p></p></div></p>
<p><strong>Nightly rate: </strong><a href="http://www.waldorfnewyork.com/the-towers.html"><span class="s1">From $499</span></a></p>
<p>The Waldorf Astoria considers the suites at the Towers to be their <a href="http://www.waldorfnewyork.com/the-towers.html"><span class="s1">"hotel atop a hotel."</span></a> More exclusive than its downstairs neighbors, it features a private entrance off East 50th Street and delicate, Victorian-style suites. Guests have their own dedicated concierge and daily breakfast in the Astoria Lounge. During your stay, make sure you take advantage of the Waldorf Astoria Spa between the twice-daily maid service - by the time you return your bed will have been turned down for pleasant dreams.</p>
<h3>Villa La Cupola Suite, Westin Excelsior, Rome</h3>
<p><div class="KonaFilter image-container"><div class="image on-image"></div><p></p></div></p>
<p><strong>Nightly rate: </strong><a href="http://www.cnn.com/2011/09/01/travel/expensive-hotel-suites-cnngo/"><span class="s1">$30,000</span></a></p>
<p>For a mere $30,000 per night, stay in this two-story suite overlooking Rome's Via Veneto. The domed living room has a fresco inspired by Rome's Renaissance-era art, as well as a private kitchen, wine cellar, private elevator, and fitness room. Guests can also request a personal chauffeur, shopper, private tours of Rome's historical locations, and helicopter transfers.</p>
<h3>Stone Canyon Suite at Hotel Bel-Air, California</h3>
<p><div class="KonaFilter image-container"><div class="image on-image"></div><p></p></div></p>
<p><strong>Nightly rate:</strong> <a href="https://gc.synxis.com/rez.aspx?Chain=5310&amp;hotel=60023&amp;locale=en-us&amp;__utma=239222038.984470404.1388689973.1388689973.1388689973.1&amp;__utmb=239222038.9.10.1388689973&amp;__utmc=239222038&amp;__utmx=-&amp;__utmz=239222038.1388689973.1.1.utmcsr%3d(direct)%7cutmccn%3d(direct)%7cutmcmd%3d(none)&amp;__utmv=-&amp;__utmk=261037134" target="_blank">$725 - $1,700</a></p>
<p>Located just off Sunset Boulevard, the <a href="http://www.dorchestercollection.com/en/los-angeles/hotel-bel-air/hotel-suites-rooms/stone-canyon-suite/" target="_blank">Hotel Bel-Air</a> has a fleet of Mercedes cars that will shuttle you in comfort and luxury, anywhere within a three-mile radius of the hotel. But you may never want to leave the room, given the in-room iPad's room service ordering capability, spa tub with built in TV, heated limestone floors, and private garden patio.</p>
<h3>The Royal Suite, The Toren, Amsterdam</h3>
<p><div class="KonaFilter image-container"><div class="image on-image"></div><p></p></div></p>
<p><strong>Nightly rate: </strong><a href="http://www.thetoren.nl/en/rooms/top-rooms/royal-suite/">From $480</a></p>
<p>The split-level Royal Suite has a dark and sultry ambience, decked out in warm colors and fabrics. The lower level of the suite is where you can access the bathroom, an en suite bathing den with a whirlpool bath, high quality toiletries, robe, and slippers. The suite is also equipped with a Nespresso pod coffee maker, one of the best on the market.</p>
<h3>Suite del Virrey at the Hotel Casa San Agustin, Colombia</h3>
<p><div class="KonaFilter image-container"><div class="image on-image"></div><p></p></div></p>
<p><strong>Nightly rate: </strong><a href="http://www.johansens.com/south-america/colombia/cartagena-de-indias/casa-san-agustin">From $500</a></p>
<p><a href="http://www.businessinsider.com/hottest-new-hotels-from-tripadvisor-2013-10">Named The World's Hottest New Hotel in 2013</a> by TripAdvisor, the Hotel Casa San Agustin's Suite del Virrey is evidence that the title is well-earned. The Suite del Virrey is two rooms, each with its own balcony and high, wooden beam-inlaid ceilings. Don't forget the private jacuzzi which sits, yes, out on the balcony. There on business? Just ask the concierge for an iPad.</p>
<h3>Deluxesvit at Ice Hotel, Sweden</h3>
<p><div class="KonaFilter image-container"><div class="image on-image"></div><p></p></div></p>
<p><strong><strong>Nightly rate</strong>:</strong> <a href="http://www.icehotel.com/wp-content/uploads/Accommodation-2013-14.pdf" target="_blank">About $1,153</a></p>
<p>In a small village 200 kilometers above the Arctic Circle, guests at the famous Ice Hotel sleep comfortably in <a href="http://www.icehotel.com/accommodation/winter/" target="_blank">-5 degree</a> temperatures. Each room is unique, furnished with a large bed and seating area made of ice and snow, and decorated with hand-carved art installations by artists selected from around the world. The <a href="http://www.icehotel.com/accommodation/winter/deluxesuit/" target="_blank">Deluxesvit</a> also boasts an ensuite sauna and toilet.</p>
<h3>The Royal Suite, Hôtel Plaza Athénée, Paris</h3>
<p><div class="KonaFilter image-container"><div class="image on-image"></div><p></p></div></p>
<p><strong>Nightly rate: </strong><a href="http://www.nydailynews.com/life-style/real-estate/paris-expensive-hotel-suite-article-1.1172275">About $26,000</a></p>
<p>Another Dorchester Collection hotel, the Hôtel Plaza Athénée is center stage in the City of Lights on Avenue Montaigne. Its Royal Suite is on the fifth floor, and offers quite a lot for being <a href="http://www.dorchestercollection.com/en/125/paris-france/hotel-plaza-athenee/room/royal-suite/">the largest</a>, and most expensive, suite in Paris: four bathrooms, antique French regency furniture, two security lobbies with a fingerprint scanner and, of course, location, location, location.</p>
<h3>Royal Suite, The Burj al-Arab, Dubai</h3>
<p><div class="KonaFilter image-container"><div class="image on-image"></div><p></p></div></p>
<p><strong>Nightly rate:</strong> <a href="http://www.businessinsider.com/burj-al-arab-royal-suite-2012-3"><span class="s1">$23,000</span></a></p>
<p>The largest suite in what is considered to be the <a href="http://www.businessinsider.com/burj-al-arab-hotel-in-dubai-2013-5"><span class="s1">most luxurious hotel in the world</span></a>, the Royal Suite at the Burj al-Arab is completely over the top in every way. It includes two bedrooms, a private dining room and cinema, and private escalator to whisk you to the 780-square-meter paradise in complete seclusion.</p>
<h3>The Imperial Suite, Park Hyatt Vendôme, France</h3>
<p><div class="KonaFilter image-container"><div class="image on-image"></div><p></p></div></p>
<p><strong>Nightly rate: </strong><a href="http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2010/01/19/most-expensive-hotel-suit_n_426882.html"><span class="s1">$20,000</span></a></p>
<p>At $20,000 a night, the Imperial Suite at the Park Hyatt Vendôme in Paris may just be the most romantic place in the world's most romantic city. The 230-square-meter suite features a massive living room and dining area, three bedrooms, three bathrooms and a private spa. Plus, it's impeccably decorated with contemporary art.</p>
<h3>Jewel Suite, New York Palace, New York</h3>
<p><div class="KonaFilter image-container"><div class="image on-image"></div><p></p></div></p>
<p><strong>Nightly rate:</strong> <a href="http://www.businessinsider.com/new-york-palace-jewel-suite-photos-2013-12"><span class="s2">Starting at $25,000</span></a></p>
<p>The <a href="http://www.businessinsider.com/new-york-palace-jewel-suite-photos-2013-12">Jewel Suite</a>, located in the newly renovated Towers section of the Palace, is a 5,000-square-foot triplex designed by jeweler Martin Katz. Ultra-glamorous amenities include private Maybach car service, complimentary champagne, and Michel Richard white chocolate diamond truffles in the grand parlor. And no need to go souvenir shopping - Jewel Suite guests will consult with Katz and receive a diamond ring designed by him.</p>
<h3>Manta Resort Room at Manta Resort, Tanzania</h3>
<p><div class="KonaFilter image-container"><div class="image on-image"></div><p></p></div></p>
<p><strong><strong>Nightly rate</strong>:</strong> <a href="http://www.businessinsider.com/africas-first-underwater-hotel-room-2013-11" target="_blank">$900 - $1,500</a></p>
<p>The world's second underwater hotel room sits 13 feet beneath the surface of the Indian Ocean, off the coast of Tanzania. <a href="http://www.businessinsider.com/africas-first-underwater-hotel-room-2013-11" target="_blank">Designed by Swedish artist Mikael Genberg</a>, the three-tiered suite includes a roof deck, a landing deck at sea level with a lounge and bathroom, and bedroom windows that afford a nearly 360-degree view of a nearby coral reef and dozens of species of fish.</p>
<h3>The Luxury Tent, The Rock Petra, Jordan</h3>
<p><div class="KonaFilter image-container"><div class="image on-image"></div><p></p></div></p>
<p><strong>Nightly rate: </strong><a href="http://www.expedia.com/Petra-Hotels-The-Rock-Camp.h4969035.Hotel-Information"><span class="s1">From $65</span></a></p>
<p>The Rock Petra offers the ultimate in desert glamping. <a href="http://www.therockpetra.com/"><span class="s1">Luxury tents</span></a> accommodate up to four people with plush, comfortable beds and jeweled Bedouin-style decor. The camp is circled by a gorge of beautiful, ancient rock formations that date back to 7,000 B.C. Steep yourself in the Bedouin way of life with authentic and hearty communal dinners, and music and dancing around the campfire.</p>
<h3>The Royal Penthouse Suite, Hotel President Wilson, Geneva</h3>
<p><div class="KonaFilter image-container"><div class="image on-image"></div><p></p></div></p>
<p><strong>Nightly rate: </strong><a href="http://www.hotelpresidentwilson.com/en/rooms/royal-penthouse">About $69,000</a></p>
<p>If you've got CHF60,000 to spare - or just over US$69,000 - The Royal Penthouse Suite at the <a href="http://www.hotelpresidentwilson.com/">Hotel President Wilson</a> in Geneva, Switzerland, will make a lovely place to stay. The private terrace sits up against bulletproof glass windows, and the bedrooms and living areas put state-of-the-art Bang &amp; Olufsen technology front and center. The 12-bed, 12-bath suite says it sleeps six, but we have a feeling you could squeeze a few more in there.</p>
<h3>Chairman Suite at Marina Bay Sands, Singapore</h3>
<p><div class="KonaFilter image-container"><div class="image on-image"></div><p></p></div></p>
<p><strong><strong>Nightly rate</strong>:</strong> <a href="http://www.complex.com/city-guide/2011/09/the-25-most-ridiculous-hotels-in-the-world/hotels-20">About $17,000</a></p>
<p>The <a href="http://www.marinabaysands.com/hotel/rooms-suites/chairman-suite.html">Chairman Suite</a>, which comes in your choice of black-and-granite or gold-and-earth colors, offers unobstructed views of the striking Singapore city skyline and lush Gardens by the Bay from three balconies. The massive suite includes a master bedroom with His and Her closets and bathrooms, an exercise room with steam and sauna, and a game room with pool table and bar. A dedicated team of butlers and pillow menu - it's exactly what you think it is - will make you feel right at home.</p>
<h3>Hardwood Suite, Palms Casino, Las Vegas</h3>
<p><div class="KonaFilter image-container"><div class="image on-image"></div><p></p></div></p>
<p><strong>Nightly rate: </strong><a href="http://www.bestofvegas.com/hotels/Palms-Las-Vegas-Hotel-Resort-and-Casino/Fantasy-Suites-Palms-Hotel-and-Casino/"><span class="s1">$25,000</span></a></p>
<p>The Hardwood suite, named for its private, indoor basketball court, <a href="http://www.palms.com/luxe-collection/hardwood-suite#__"><span class="s1">covers 10,000 square feet</span></a><span class="s1"> </span>over two floors. It also has a professional locker room and "NBA-sized" beds. The suite sleeps an entire basketball team, but has a capacity for 350 people in case of post-game after-parties. It's not limited to players, though; non-basketball <a href="http://money.cnn.com/galleries/2007/pf/0705/gallery.las_vegas_suites/4.html"><span class="s1">celebs like Russell Simmons and Paris Hilton</span></a> have also taken full advantage of the lavish bar, dance floor and lounge, and 24-hour butler service here.</p>
<h3>Maharajah's Pavilion, Raj Palace, India</h3>
<p><div class="KonaFilter image-container display-table"><div><div class="image on-image"></div><p></p></div></div></p>
<p><strong>Nightly rate: </strong><a href="http://www.rajpalace.com/raj-palace-rooms-rates.html"><span class="s1">$15,000</span></a></p>
<p><a href="http://www.rajpalace.com/maharajahs-pavilion.html">The Maharajah's Pavilion</a> is a four-story monster of a suite, with a private entrance, library, bar and lounge, pool, and spa, not to mention a dining room and kitchen. If the Maharajah's Pavilion is booked when you're looking to stay, not to worry: The hotel has a second presidential suite, the <a href="http://www.rajpalace.com/shahi-mahal-suite.html">Shahi Mahal</a>, which offers equally extravagant amenities.</p>

21 insanely lavish hotel suites to stay in before you die

2016 was much of euphoria for tourism industry. The<a href="http://www.businessinsider.in/heres-how-budget-2017-will-be-a-game-changer-intourism-industry/articleshow/56628238.cms"> tourism ministry</a> got 70 % hike in the budget with an allocation of Rs 1,590 crore, to focus on infrastructure development and promotion and publicity initiatives. But in a knee jerk reaction to <keyword id="6354642" type="PERSON" weightage="20" keywordseo="modi">Modi</keyword>'s demonetization move in November last year, the industry has been left with no choice but to make losses.<br /><br />In the last few years, the tourism in India has witnessed a major boom. In comparison to inbound travel, India has seen a major growth in the outbound sector, thanks to the disposable income of the <a href="http://www.businessinsider.in/heres-how-budget-2017-will-be-a-game-changer-intourism-industry/articleshow/56628238.cms">millenials</a>.<br /><br />Here are a few reasons, why India’s tourism hasn’t achieved much in comparison to <a href="http://www.businessinsider.in/heres-how-budget-2017-will-be-a-game-changer-intourism-industry/articleshow/56628238.cms">China</a>.<br /><br /><br /><strong>Infrastructure</strong><br />While domestic<a href="http://www.businessinsider.in/heres-how-budget-2017-will-be-a-game-changer-intourism-industry/articleshow/56628238.cms"> travellers</a> have quadrupled, Indian tourism didn’t see much development in its infrastructure. While roads may have become better, and a lot of online travel portals have born, what went missing is a massive blue print of infrastructure to take India’s tourism to a new high. In India there has hardly been any addition to new hotels.<br /><br />Compare this to China and you would be surprised to find <keyword id="1333" type="LOCATION" weightage="20" keywordseo="beijing">Beijing</keyword> has as many star-category hotel rooms as all of India. India till 2015 has just a little over 100,000 star rated hotel rooms, compared to Beijing’s 130,000 alone.<br /><br />Also lack of supply of hotel rooms has aggravated the demand thereby making the travel in India far expensive in India. The rooms that cost $400 a night in Delhi or Mumbai would cost hardly $100 dollars in most part of China.<br /><br />
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<br /><br /><strong>Market size</strong><br />Another primary reason for China’s growth in tourism market is its size. China is far larger than our country, packed with tonnes of tourist attractions. Also many foreign visitors coming to India prefer cultural and natural destinations and tend to stay away from the cities. However in China, cities are also major draws.<br /><br /><strong>Expenses</strong><br />Tax disparity in independent travel purchase is a major flaw in Indian travel ecosystem. There are just too many taxes, which makes travel expensive.<br /><br /><strong>Communication</strong><br />The quality of transportation infrastructure in China is light-years ahead of India, there's simply no comparison, according to a <keyword id="274437" type="UNKNOWN" weightage="20" keywordseo="Quora">Quora</keyword> post. It is far easier and more comfortable for tourists to get around China than it is for them to get around India. China's air, rail, and road networks are all faster, safer, and more modern than India's.<br /><br />
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<br /><br /><strong>Safety and security</strong><br />India has witnessed countless instances of pickpockets, burglary, sexual assaults and scams against foreign tourists. There are tourist traps as well that make the country unsafe for travellers.<br />Visits to India by female tourists dropped 35 percent in 2015 compared with the same period a year ago, according to the <a href="http://www.businessinsider.in/heres-how-budget-2017-will-be-a-game-changer-intourism-industry/articleshow/56628238.cms">Associated Chambers of Commerce and Industry of India</a>.<br /><br />There is very little for travellers to worry about in China. Violent crime and rape are almost unheard of. You can walk down dark city streets at night in China and have nothing to worry about.<br /><br /><em>Here are the suggestions of industry experts to make tourism in India at par with China:</em><br /><br /><em></em><strong>Sharat Dhall</strong>, COO (B2C), <strong>Yatra.com</strong>, an online travel agency and a travel search engine:<br /><br />“The Indian tourism industry is growing at a rapid pace, fuelled by a growing domestic middle class with increasing disposable incomes. In addition, the inbound market is growing at a steady pace as well. However, in comparison to other comparable countries, India still has a long way to go in terms of fulfilling its potential as a tourism destination.<br /><br />The Government has rightly identified Tourism as a pillar of growth in the economy and with improved road infrastructure, regional air connectivity and better budget accommodation, we expect that we will unlock this sector and improve our share of the global tourism market. The Chinese tourism industry &amp; OTAs have benefited from country’s economic development and we believe that India’s tourism sector and online travel market is poised for continued growth and value creation as the economy grows, following the well-established path seen in the US and China.”<br /><br /><strong><keyword id="2049459" type="PERSON" weightage="20" keywordseo="amitabh-misra">Amitabh Misra</keyword></strong>, Founder of <strong>GoFro.com</strong>, an online travel marketplace for leisure travel:<br /><br />If we compare the global travel scenario, almost 30-40% population in <a href="http://www.businessinsider.in/heres-how-budget-2017-will-be-a-game-changer-intourism-industry/articleshow/56628238.cms">US and Europe</a> go for leisure travel every year, where as in China the number is around 8% and in India it’s still less than 1% of the total population, making it a market with huge growth potential.<br /><br />Having said that one of the major concern is increase in tax disparity in independent travel purchase viz-a-viz holiday packages; for example, the consumer has to pay the tax on flight tickets, now if its combined with a holiday package, they will also have to pay tax on the overall package as well, thus travel is getting costlier for the consumer. We are expecting the 2017 budget to adopt a lenient tax structure which further promote the tourism industry. With government working towards improving country’s infrastructure and enabling tech support at various section will also lead to faster growth of inbound tourism.<br /><br /><br /><strong>Ritesh Agarwal</strong>, Founder &amp; CEO, <strong>OYO Rooms</strong> :<br />Infrastructure development is a pre-requisite to provide the much-needed impetus for the industry’s growth. Additional incentives should be provided for infrastructure investments in the travel and tourism sector to accelerate growth. A lower tax rate for hospitality business and the lower rate of interest for real-estate development will ensure opening up of more supply for the nascent branded budget hospitality sector. This will be in line with supporting small owner-friendly policies, such as the exemption of service tax in the sub-Rs. 1000 hotel room category.”<br /><br />

China’s tourism is much ahead of India. Here’s why

<a href="http://www.businessinsider.in/searchresult.cms?query=hotels">Hotels</a> that tied up with aggregators seem to be displeased by the latter. Trouble began when the <keyword id="3187949" type="UNKNOWN" weightage="20" keywordseo="Hotel-Aggregators">hotel aggregators</keyword> started undercutting and promising more than the <keyword id="6368036" type="PERSON" weightage="20" keywordseo="Hotels">hotels</keyword> could provide.<br />
<br />
The <a href="http://www.businessinsider.in/searchresult.cms?query=hotel+aggregators">hotel aggregators</a> were at their peak as they were getting lot of customers in 2015 and had tied with as many as 1000 hotels.<br />
<br />
However, the experience, over the time, turned sour for the aggregators.<br />
<br />
ET reported an incident in which Sunil J Trivedi of Riverview Hotel in Ahmedabad said aggregators do not put everything on the site, which misleads the customer.<br />
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"Undercutting is totally not tolerable in this industry as it is harmful for our business and goodwill. This clearly impacted the customers coming to us as sometimes we got day-use kind of bookings, which we never take," said Trivedi.<br />
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Likewise, there are many instances in which hotels are snapping ties with the aggregators now.<br />
<br />
As per reports, over 200 hotels have apparently ended ties with leading aggregators Oyo <a href="http://www.businessinsider.in/searchresult.cms?query=oyo+rooms">Rooms</a> and <a href="http://www.businessinsider.in/searchresult.cms?query=zo+rooms">Zo</a> in the last five-six months.<br />
Another problem that hotels are facing is of payments.<br />
<br />
A Mumbai-based hotelier Karl Kerawalla took to <a href="http://www.businessinsider.in/searchresult.cms?query=twitter">Twitter</a> to complain about a non-payment issue.<br />
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Hotels say due to a plethora of issues their loyal customers are turning away, which could lead to a major problem in the long run.<br />
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Manav Thadani, chairman, HVS Asia Pacific told ET, "While there has been a lot of hype about the aggregator model, how many will survive depends on the management and having solid processes in place rather than deep discounting to win the game."<br />

You Searched For "hotel room rates in india" and got 12 results

Here's why hotel room rates in India may double in the next 3 to 4 years

Sriram Iyer

India's largest budget hotel chain is spending on technology instead of discounts

Sriram Iyer

Lemon Tree Hotels is eyeing properties in New York, Bangkok, and Colombo

Sriram Iyer

Sarovar Hotels to add 15 properties across India by 2020-end

PTI

Business Travel: Drivers And Speadbreakers

Pallavi Srivastava

Hotels may see 20-40 pc fall in occupancy rates in Mar-May due to COVID-19: Report

PTI

This is how Oyo is becoming the dark horse of SoftBank’s investments

BI India Bureau

Lemon Tree will sell stake in all its hotels in 3 to 5 years: Chairman

Sriram Iyer

India's tourism industry should target USD 50 bn revenues by 2022: Kant

PTI

21 insanely lavish hotel suites to stay in before you die

Melissa Stanger,Melia Robinson

China’s tourism is much ahead of India. Here’s why

Suchayan Mandal

Hotels are snapping ties with aggregators after experience goes sour

BI India Bureau

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