- Friday, February 28, 2025
By: Shubham Ghosh
India’s domestic travel and hospitality industry received a setback as the Covid-19 pandemic peaked but now the country’s G20 presidency has helped in boosting it as events related to the grouping have seen increased bookings at hotels and a surge in the price of hotel rooms.
India, which took over the G20 presidency for a year from Indonesia last December, recently completed 100 meetings related to the grouping and the G20 has given the country’s hospitality sector the biggest fillip since the lifting of the pandemic restrictions two years ago, Moneycontrol reported citing industry experts.
“The G20 summit has opened great business avenues and opportunities in the long run. The hospitality industry is on the way to recovery and has started to meet the pre-Covid levels,” Somesh Agarwal, MD of Radisson Blu Palace Resort in Udaipur in the north-western state of Rajasthan was quoted as saying by Moneycontrol.
Citing the example of Dubai Expo which gave the Middle Eastern city an opportunity to boost through the pandemic, InterGlobe Hotels president and CEO JB Singh told Moneycontrol on the sidelines of the recently held Hotel nvestment Conference – South Asia 2023 in Bengaluru that G20 similarly is a big event that would not only boost the hospitality industry but also the country.
“It has come at a very good time as we are getting out of the pandemic impact,” Singh was quoted as saying by the news outlet.
G20 events held across the country have seen arrivals of foreign dignitaries and domestic movement of people, providing the hospitality industry a much needed push.
As per a statement issued by the government, in-person participation during India’s G20 presidency is among the biggest ever with more than 12,300 delegates from more than 110 nationalities attending meetings related to the grouping so far.
“With the arrival of guests and dignitaries, travel bookings surged strongly this year and we saw a threefold increase in the number of bookings to New Delhi as many foreign ministers arrived alongside other important diplomats to be a part of the G20 meet,” Nishant Pitti, CEO and co-founder, EaseMyTrip, an online travel company based in the Indian capital was quoted as saying.
According to Pitti, bookings have grown twice their normal numbers due to the G20-related bookings.
Hotels, too, are seeing a rise in demand as more than 300 events will be hosted in 56 places around the country, with several thousands of delegates expected to participate.
The Hotel Association of India said the country is estimated to witness demand for more than three lakh (0.3 million) rooms for the G20 meetings, the Moneycontrol report added.
It is predicted that more than 100,000 hotel rooms bookings will be registered across hotels in India for 300 G20 meetings, the report added.
The indirect requirement during the gatherings will be 150,000 to 200,000 rooms per night, the report said.
Pitti said India’s G20 presidency has provided a new commercial opportunity to hotels and to cater to the demands, most five-star and luxury properties are reserved in advance, leaving them completely booked.
