Riding high on the success of the Formula One race in Greater Noida last month, several hotels, airlines, travel and tour operators and car rental companies are now gearing up for the upcoming Auto Expo in Delhi from January 7 to 11.
Despite the auto industry going through a turbulent ride with falling sales, the hospitality and transport industry is upbeat about the event. The expo may give an additional fillip to hotel bookings in Delhi which anyway run a higher occupancy rate during January owing to peak inbound tourist demand.
Several hotels reported a spurt in advance bookings by almost 25 to 50 per cent and have upped the tariffs during the first two weeks of January. Hotels and travel agencies also reported incremental business owing to bookings for short leisure tours by expo delegates and visitors keen on exploring nearby tourist destinations such as Agra, Jaipur, Shimla and Manali. Some corporate travellers are also keen to survey other cities in search of new manufacturing sites.
AIRLINE FARES
However, airline fares have not witnessed any increase yet, say online travel booking sites. “Hotel reservations during the Auto Expo have gone up by 15 to 20 per cent over historical data and are expected to go up further by 10 to 12 per cent closer to the event. Fares are expected to shoot up by around the same percentage in end-December owing to peaking demand,” said Mr Manmeet Ahluwalia, travel website Expedia's country head, marketing.
Another travel website, Yatra, said the air fare levels for Delhi are almost the same as last year, owing to fierce domestic competition.
Mr Ahluwalia said: “This year, there is an increase in bookings from Rajasthan and Punjab apart from metros. Several customers visiting the expo from South and West India are extending their trips to the North.”
Mr Asif Meghani, General Manager, Check Inn Hotels, said: “All our rooms have been booked by the Japanese delegation of Nissan Auto. The demand for bookings during January 4-15 is up by 20-25 per cent and we have upped the tariffs by about 35 per cent, as it is anyway peak time for us.”
CAR RENTALS
Hotels paying more attention to transportation of overseas customers are also having a multiplier effect on car rental companies.
The CEO of Avis India, Mr Sunil Gupta said: “With hotel demand going up, the demand by corporate clients for end-to-end transport requirements has also gone up. Hence, we have seen a 30 to 40 per cent increase in car bookings from January 7 to 11.” Ms Richa Goyal of Stic Travel said operators are increasingly recognising the market potential of business tourism.
“Our travel queries have gone up by 20-30 per cent for January but this could also be due to Kingfisher cutting down their flights. Also, inbound tourist demand peaks in winter.”