Hitting the Festive Highs

Hotels are announcing special packages designed to align with the festivals and celebrations, which are creating new revenue streams for the sector.

- By Bindu Gopal Rao

With options such as festival room packages and culinary experiences along with cultural activities, hotels are making the most of festival tourism. Experts weigh in.

Festive Fervour

Festivals such as Durga Puja, New Year, Poila Baisakh and Christmas significantly enhance hotel bookings by attracting many tourists, encouraging longer stays and fostering unique cultural experiences. Additionally, music festivals, concerts and other events are also pushing demand. Hotels leverage this opportunity by offering special room packages, cultural experiences and food and beverage promotions, leading to higher occupancy rates during these festive periods.

"At Altair, we customise and curate multiple activities and offerings, including room festival packages, themed decorations, a special festive menu, themed food promotions and more. We create something for everyone, such as relaxing staycations, festival celebrations and musical events at our hotel. We develop our operational plan based on expected guest movements and prepare additional resources to ensure we provide an equal experience to each guest. However, a surge in demand may result in longer wait times for dining guests who have not made advance bookings,” says Nitin Kohli, Wholetime Director, Altair, Ambuja Neotia Hospitality.

Getting Ready

Festivals also create an opportunity to build deeper connections with guests through immersive experiences rooted in tradition, sustainability, and local culture.