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Ambar Singh Roy

KOLKATA, March 7

INDIA'S entry into the Supex Six of the World Cup has come as a bonanza for hotels and restaurants in Kolkata, home to the `Maharaja' of Indian cricket, Sourav Ganguly.

All hotels and restaurants here worth their salt are leaving no stone unturned to extract maximum mileage from the hype and hoopla that a World Cup match can create. For restaurants, this can translate into incremental business of up to 40 per cent, say informed sources.

Says Mr Ranvir Bhandari, General Manager of the newly-inaugurated ITC Sonar Bangla Sheraton Hotel & Towers: "We have made sure that the World Cup is visible on television screens at all our restaurants and even in the banquet halls. The idea is to build on bonhomie and bonding among friends. Something that would ultimately lead to teamsmanship."

According to Mr Bhandari, ITC Sonar Bangla organised a `see-together' for select invitees, guests and important customers during the India-Pakistan match. "They all enjoyed the match together and most of them turned impromptu third umpires and back-seat commentators. After the match, all our restaurants were full."

The stewards in Taj Bengal, Hotel Hindustan International, The Kenilworth and well-known chef Sanjeev Kapoor's Grain of Salt have all donned the uniform worn by the Indian team. While there's nothing official about it, the passion is discernible.

Taj Bengal has lined up a menu with a new text card based on the theme of the game. The hotel has on offer scratch cards and prediction cards based on which guests are entitled to gifts. Says a hotel spokesperson, "We are facilitating a process that would enable our guests to celebrate the spirit of the game, both as individuals and as a group."

At Hotel Hindustan International, it's sheer `Crickphoria' at the Palm Court, the hotel's coffee shop. The Palm Court has been converted into a stadium, with supporters of the contesting matches of that particular day seated opposite each other and cheering the team they support. Buffet is on offer keeping in mind the food habits of the teams playing at that point in time. The spread: Dutch Soup from the Netherlands, Fish Wellington from England, Jamaican Beef from West Indies, Curried Okra from Sri Lanka and, of course, Kali Dal from India, among others.

For tipplers, whose favourite line is: "Another (hic) Scotch, please," the place to head for is the Oberoi Grand. The hotel's punchline: "Go all out this World Cup. A bevy of imported and Indian beverage brands to indulge in. And what's more. We'll let you play till you declare yourself Out." There's a rider for tipplers, though. The offer is valid for a single innings.

Winning Streak, the only sports bar in Kolkata, has redone its seating arrangements in tune with the Indian team's World Cup colour and logo. There are special offers and prizes. Any which way one looks, there's cricket memorabilia and cut-outs of cricketers. Says Ms Bunty Sethi, Proprietor of Winning Streak: "During the World Cup Soccer, we logged an incremental business of 25 per cent. Now, we are looking at an additional business of 40 per cent."

So, till the finals on March 23, it's Hip (hic) Hip (hic) Hurray for Kolkata's cricket lovers, hotels and restaurants alike.

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