New Year revelries to fund relief.
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Chennai: It is most likely to be toast for a cause for a majority of hotels in Chennai and Mamallapuram as they have decided not to be host to all the fun and frolic that entails New Year’s eve celebrations.
With Chennai floods casting a shadow on New Year revelries, many hotels have decided to call off celebrations, some have decided to hold them on a low-key affair while a few have come forward to offer buffet.
Many hotels are likely to ring in the New Year on a somber note and even forego illumination at their properties. Some have decided to organise events to support the rehabilitation of flood-affected families.
The extent of loss to the tourism and hospitality sector owing to the floods has not been assessed so far. Heavy rains and the subsequent flooding in the city threw life out of gear in many hotels.
The GRT Grand, which was inundated, had to take up restoration work and ensure its convention centre banquet hall became fully operational from December 18. It’s other hotels in the city and Temple Bay, Mamallapuram, which became fully operational, have decided not to hold New Year parties.
Several city hotels had to face the brunt of the calamitous flooding that destroyed their chillers, gensets, electrical units, besides inundating the basement levels leading to cancellations of bookings.
According to sources in South India Hotels & Restaurants Association (SIHRA), hotels have suffered extensive damage to electrical and other installations. As Chennai airport was shut down for a week, occupancies dropped in hotels.
As a result, business hotels operated with below 40 % occupancy. Le Royal Méridien of Chennai has decided to tone down year-end celebration to offer only a buffet while Park Hyatt has decided to keep the celebration a low key affair.
Taj Hotels, which has five properties in the city, has pledged to donate 50 per cent of New Year’s Eve profits for Chennai flood relief work. “We ring in the new season with hope in our hearts and a new song on our lips. As we ring in New Year 2016, we would like to raise a toast to the indomitable spirit of Chennai. As a salute to this spirited city, the Taj Hotels in Chennai would like to pledge 50 per cent of the New Year’s Eve profits for the Chennai Flood Relief through Tata Trust,” a senior official of the group said.
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( Source : deccan chronicle )
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