Indians are opting for longer stays

In an interview with India Outbound, Sandra Polo Canudas, Commercial Director, Asia & MEA of Palladium Hotel Group, says that Palladium Hotel Group has received a very positive response from the Indian market and the numbers are already better than 2019.

- Varsha Singh

Q Which are the most popular hotels for Indian travellers?

In the Palladium Hotel Group, most popular hotels in the Indian market are Ushuaïa Ibiza Beach Hotel in Ibiza as well as Hard Rock Hotel, also at Ibiza. These are the top two, then the third one would be the Grand Palladium Palace Ibiza and Grand Palladium White Island also set in Ibiza and in the happening area of Playa d’enBossa. Ibiza is very popular in the Indian market and it has picked up very much in the later years.

Do you have exact numbers for the pre-pandemic year and the post-pandemic year?

You can actually not compare because the number of arrivals from the Indian clients in 2022, as this year is not comparable to 2019 since India reopened only from April onwards. We also have to take into account the visa delays for Europe. Though the Spanish visa has been very successful actually and has been the fastest one in Europe, but visa is another reason why we cannot compare the numbers. But if we compare the numbers, let us say the percentage of the incoming arrivals from the Indian market to Spain, then we have to say that we even increased our share from 2019. So we are very happy. Thus, we expect 2023 to be quite better.

What is your plan for the Indian market in 2023?