No increase in rates at bars, clubs with exodus from Mumbai

MUMBAI: Planning to book a table or a floor at your favourite bar, pub or club for a New Year’s eve party? You are in for a pleasant surprise.
Most hospitality establishments have not hiked rates this year due to a slump in demand as thousands, hoteliers said, are leaving the city ahead of a long weekend from January 1.
The hoteliers said many have left for tourist destinations in and around Mumbai.State tourism department officials confirmed that many destinations were overbooked. Tourism officials said even accommodations run by locals at tourist destinations under the bed-and-breakfast scheme had waiting lists. Visits to religious places appear a priority for tourists, as Shirdi tops the slot in booking. Sources said this was because the first day of the New Year will be a Thursday. Many temples, such as Siddhivinayak, have also geared up to receive large crowds.
“Demand for parties has reduced this year, compared to last year. We expect comparatively fewer footfalls, looking at bookings as of now. Even rates for parties this year have not seen an increase by more than 5% over last year. This is mainly because people have started moving out of the city to celebrate the first few days of the new year with family and friends,” said Ahar secretary Sukesh Shetty. Ahar has over 8,000 restaurants, bars and smaller hotels in Mumbai region as its members.
Shetty said rates in restaurants for a couple ranged from Rs2,500 to Rs4,000, while at night clubs packages are on the higher side, ranging from Rs5,500 to Rs8,000 depending on the type of establishment and quality of offers in the package.
Many from government and corporate offices have opted for a day’s leave on Friday, January 2, to make the weekend longer as January 1 (Thursday) will be a holiday. “Being the first long weekend, many have started moving out of the city,” said sources associated to those collecting toll from motorists at the five nakas on the fringes of the city.
Senior Maharashtra Tourism Development Corporation (MTDC) officials said even off-season destinations such as Mahabaleshwar, Malshej and Matheran were booked 100%, besides beaches at Harihareshwar, Tarkarli and Ganpatipule. Destinations of religious importance, such as Lonavala, Shirdi, Tuljapur, Pandharpur, Ajanta Elora, Shani Shingnapur. Forest reserves such as Tadoba will also be packed, officials said.
“Even cottages run by local residents at these destinations have waiting lists. Private hotels have completed 90% bookings for the first weekend of the new year,” they pointed out. While MTDC has 1,700 beds at over 20 destinations across the state, under the bed-and-breakfast and Mahabhraman schemes, there are another 5,200 beds in private cottages. Private hotels and lodges have even more capacity to accommodate tourists at these destinations. Sources attached to religious tourism said temples at Shirdi, Kolhapur and Tuljapur had geared up for large crowds.