NEWS | Getaways booked out as Delhiites head for hills

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There is an increase in consumers wanting safe vacations and destinations like Manali, Rishikesh, Jaipur, Chandigarh, Shimla and Mussoorie are on their list of popular destination according to Booking.com

From #lockdowndiaries to #wanderlust, the rapid change in priorities of Delhiites is evident — both on social media and on the highways. There’s a scramble to head out of the city, leaving the roads to Himachal Pradesh and Uttarakhand, the nearest getaways, choked with cars.

Most hotels in the hills or those close to the capital are sold out for the coming weekend. Ritu Mehrotra, regional manager (South Asia), Booking.com, disclosed, “We are seeing an increase in consumers wanting a safe vacation. Based on recent data, some of the most searched Indian destinations, besides New Delhi and Gurgaon, for the weekend of June 19-20 are Manali, Rishikesh, Jaipur, Chandigarh, Shimla and Mussoorie.”

Even hotels close by in Alwar and Manesar are almost fully booked for the weekend. City lodges too are expecting a busy time ahead.

The hills have ‘ayes’: A boost for hoteliers


Benita Sharma, area manager, North luxury hotels, ITC, said both their properties — the newly opened Welcomhotel Tavleen Chail and ITC Grand Bharat in Manesar — are sold out for the coming weekend. She said ‘drive cations and ‘safe staycations’, which gained popularity last year, aren’t just fads but here to stay and concepts such as ‘gourmet bubble’ are gaining popularity. Group restaurants Bukhara and Dum Pukht too are set to be crowded on June 19 and 20.

The rush to drive to nearby destinations has been a boon for domestic boutique hotels and chains. While Vinit Chhabra, general manager, The Khyber Himalayan Resort & Spa, Kashmir, reported a growing demand and impressive occupancy this month, Danish Din, director of The Golden Dragon Hotel, Ladakh, too was inundated with queries for June and July. Ahsan Shervani of Shervani Hilltop in Nainital said even the October-February offseason looks likely to be as good as the peak season.

“With families having been confined to home for so long, people are clamouring for leisure experiences,” observed Vibhas Prasad, Director, Leisure Hotels Group. “They will drive for long holidays to wide-open spaces amidst nature and mountains away from the summer heat.” Rahul Puri, general manager of The Westin Gurgaon and The Westin Sohna Resort and Spa, claimed a 30% growth in leisure guests and steadily rising average occupancy. Puri said the group’s Sohna property is proving popular for staycations because of activities like a petting zoo, horse riding, moon gazing and cycling.

City hotels such as The Lodhi too are expecting a busy weekend. Ever since the hotel reopened and dining in was allowed, it has received queries about weekend stays.

Simran Kodesia, communications head, Airbnb India & South East Asia, noted that while weekend trips to the hills were on the rise since the easing of the lockdown, the travellers were not letting their guard down. “Health and safety are top of mind for both the hotel hosts and guests, and we can discern an increasing number of travellers looking for secluded accommodations, tree houses, apple orchards and homes that are private but afford them a unique and immersive travel experience,” Kodesia pointed out. Hotels and websites too are being meticulous about vaccinating their staff and installing heightened safety measures to reassure the stir-crazy travellers.

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Thai hospitality firm Dusit International announces re-entry into India

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Thailand-based hospitality firm Dusit International has announced its return to India with a plan to open at least two Dusit-branded hotels per year 2021 onward in tier I and tier II cities.

The company will focus on markets such as Mumbai, Delhi and Bengaluru – as well as key leisure destinations such as Goa.

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Hotels, weekly markets to open in Delhi

Hotels, weekly markets to open in Delhi

Hotels have been allowed to re-open in Delhi, while weekly markets will be allowed to open on a trial basis in the nation’s capital. The decision was taken in a meeting of Delhi Disaster Management Authority (DDMA) on Wednesday. Gymnasiums though will continue to remain closed.

Arvind Kejriwal-led Delhi govt had on 6 August sent a proposal to Lieutenant governor Anil Baijal for the reopening of hotels and re-opening of weekly markets on a trial basis in Delhi.

That was a week after the LG rejected the government’s proposal to allow the opening of hotels, gyms, and weekly markets under unlock-3.

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Delhi: No longer up in the air, dining in open space to be reality

Taking a cue from European Countries, South Delhi Municipal Corporation (SMDC) is planning to allow open-air restaurants in the areas falling under its jurisdiction.

They will also be allowed to play light music, though seating diners on the pavements as done abroad will not be permitted.

For More Information Click Below :

timesofindia.indiatimes.com/city/delhi/no-longer-up-in-the-air-dining-in-open-space-to-be-reality/articleshow/76719462.cms

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Delhi to transform 25 luxury hotels into Covid-19 care centres

Key Take Away

Staff at luxury hotels in Delhi are to start welcoming guests not with traditional garlands but with a medical gown. Amid growing concerns that there are not enough hospital beds to cope with the rising number of cases, the Delhi government has become the first in the country to requisition its hotels. Each hotel will be linked with the nearest COVID-19 hospital.

Delhi’s Chief Minister, Arvind Kejriwal, has predicted that the capital needs 150,000 beds by the end of July when cases are estimated to rise to half a million

Hotel owners and management, already reeling from huge losses, are privately fuming, particularly as they were not consulted by the government on the decision to turn their facilities into hospitals or the 5,000 rupees (£53) per night tariff, inclusive of all meals, that has been fixed by the government.

For More Information Click Below :

www.theguardian.com/global-development/2020/jun/22/delhi-to-transform-25-luxury-hotels-into-covid-19-care-centres

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Delhi govt asks Taj Man Singh hotel to provide rooms for COVID-19 patients

Key Take Away

The Delhi government directed the Taj Man Singh hotel to provide all its rooms to the Sir Ganga Ram Hospital with immediate effect for accommodating Covid-19 patients.

In addition to the Delhi government’s plans of using hotels, the Centre will provide 500 railway coaches to make up for the shortage of beds for Covid-19 patients in the city.

All services including rooms, food, housekeeping, and disinfection for the patients shall be provided by the hotel.

For More Information Click Below :

www.hindustantimes.com/delhi-news/delhi-govt-asks-taj-man-singh-hotel-to-provide-rooms-for-covid-19-patients/story-pCW4NOXI7xdd4K2UxMsgqK.html

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Delhi: 40 hotels, 80 banquet halls to be converted to COVID-19 facilities with 20K more beds

Key Take Away

The Delhi government has directed district magistrates and other officials concerned to set up nearly 20,000 more beds in the wake of a spurt in COVID-19 cases in the national capital.

According to the official, around 40 hotels and 80 banquet halls will be converted into health facilities to provide medical care to coronavirus-infected people.

 Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal had said that Delhi would need 1.5 lakh beds by July 31 if people from other states start coming to the national capital for treatment.

For More Information Click Below:

www.livemint.com/news/india/delhi-40-hotels-80-banquet-halls-to-be-converted-to-covid-19-facilities-with-20k-more-beds-11592147122898.html

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Hyatt Regency in Delhi warns coronavirus patient dined at restaurant

The hotel has since started precautionary operational protocols, undertaken deep-cleaning measures in the restaurant, colleague lockers and all the public areas, restaurants and meeting spaces across the hotel.

The Hyatt Regency Delhi has asked its staff to go on a self-quarantine procedure for 14 days after they discovered that an individual who dined at their La Piazza restaurant on February 28 has been diagnosed with coronavirus.

They also said that they are monitoring the situation and are following the guidelines and protocols recommended by international and local authorities

Coronavirus news: The hotel has since started precautionary operational protocols

Coronavirus news: The hotel has since started precautionary operational protocols

CELEBRATING THE YOUTHFUL FERVOUR OF HOSPITALITY @ BCIHMCT Induction-cum-Independence Day Celebrations (13th – 14th August 2019)

The Orientation Programme for the fresh batch of the Academic Year 2019-20 was held on the 13th August, 2019 at the Auditorium of the lush green campus of Banarsidas Chandiwala Institute of Hotel Management & Catering Technology, witnessing more than 250 stakeholders who attended the Programme along with staff and faculty of the Institute. BCIHMCT extended a warm welcome to the First year students, their parents and guardians through the induction programme. The Programme commenced with the ceremonial Lighting of the Lamp and traditional Ganesh Vandana performed by students.

Dr. Sarah Hussain, Principal, BCIHMCT, gave insight into the mission, vision, structure and function of the college as well as SBCSST Society. Expressing her views on the career in hotel management and the importance of attendance, grooming, personality development as well as communication skills, she emphasized on the willingness to work and striving for continual growth as a significant aspect of this course. She addressed the audience and urged cooperation from everyone including parents and students.

Mr Alok Aswal, Dean Administration, BCIHMCT, briefed about the rules and regulations regarding conduct of students throughout four years at the institute. He requested the students and parents to understand as well as abide by the institutional norms.

BCIHMCT, New Delhi commemorated the Pre-Independence celebrations with great zeal and enthusiasm on 14th August, 2019. All the faculty members and students gathered at the college premises to hoist the National Flag. Dr. Hussain, spoke about the importance of freedom from all kinds of ills in the society. She encouraged everyone to follow the life’s learning from the great patriots namely Mahatma Gandhi and Sardar Vallabh Bhai Patel. Senior batch students enlightened the gathering with the importance of the sacrifices of those who gave up their lives for the Freedom of India. The function concluded with the National Anthem.

Bearing the multifaceted role of trees in maintaining the environment, the scheduled Tree Plantation Drive followed the celebrations, emphasizing the environmental crisis. The special action plan was initiated by the Principal, under whose guidance the students planted a sapling in the landscape area around the institute.