HYDERABAD: With over 15 states across the country imposing restrictions against New Year celebrations, Hyderabad, which has the least curbs, has witnessed a substantial influx of party goers from across the country this year. Hoteliers and tour operators point out that there hasn’t been any drop in demand due to the Covid situation.
In an example of the huge demand sending prices skyrocketing, Brown Town Resort situated at Kanakamamidi increased their charges from Rs 7,000 last year to Rs 35,000 this year ‘in a bid to discourage crowds’.
“We are fully booked for New Year’s Eve. No major event is being hosted. We are serving nine to 10 cuisines and a live band will be playing music,” Sanketh Reddy, managing director of Brown Town Resort, said.
Even pubs in remote areas on outskirts of Shamshabad are expected to be jam packed this year. Gringo Shack, one such pub, has seen over 100 bookings already for December 31 night. “We are priced competitively and we have kept an entry limit. We already reached the limit. Entries will be allowed on 31st night only if there is a no-show by those who have made bookings,” Vidya Shankar, the event organiser for that day, told TOI.
The average occupancy rate amongst hotels stands at around 80% during this new year eve, according to Telangana Hotels Association. Speaking to TOI, B Jagdish Rao, secretary of Telangana Hotels Association admitted that due to lack of government strictures, there has been an influx of people looking to celebrate New Year to Hyderabad. “Some hotels situated on the main roads have already touched 100% (occupancy rate). Hotels and restaurants impose Covid guidelines by themselves,” Rao told TOI.
Tours and travel operators point out that a large chunk of people will be entering Hyderabad from Vijayawada, Kakinada and Vizag. Apart from them, people from other cities like Bengaluru, Chennai and several places across Kerala are looking forward to partying in the city.
Party goers in the city who are desperately looking for a place to host a party point out that options are running out. “We checked Airbnb, Oyo resorts and even directly contacted farm houses, but the answer is ‘it’s already booked’. The ones that are available are insanely expensive and pubs are pretty unaffordable,” K Vamsi Krishna, an IT professional rues.
