Homestays, hotels explore ways to rev up business

Coimbatore: Homestays and hotels in the district have been remaining shut since March 15. Having lost almost one and half months of peak summer season, many of them are expecting things to look up better at least during the monsoon season. They are mulling options like offering discounts on room rates, attracting families with more activities and promoting them more once more districts go into the green zone.
While a few homestays in the Nilgiris are excited about the district becoming eligible to be declared a green zone any day now, they say their revenues or business is unlikely to pick up unless the borders open.
Meetha Prabhu, of Destiny’s Farmstay in Avalanche, says, “Even if we are allowed to function by the district administration, business will not really pick up for us unless the borders open. Most of our guests are from other states and districts.”
Tharini, senior manager, Briarwood Tea Estates, Valparai, says things wouldn’t be much different for Coimbatore as well. “Imagine the district manages to get into the green zone by mid-May. But any activity in the tourism sector is likely to pick up only in June, as we still expect some fear of travelling.”
Pointing out that most of their guests are from Chennai, Kerala and Bengaluru, he says they will have to introduce some offers and discounts to attract them once the district and interstate borders open. “Since monsoons in Valparai are spectacular, we definitely hope to attract people.”
SerendipityO Rsorts too plans to drop their prices, keeping an eye on economy. Its owner Ambareen Junaid says, “We will offer freebies to some of our loyal customers, while our restaurants will pass on any benefits that we receive to the customers.”
Many homestays are planning to extend the activities they had planned for the summer holidays to the monsoon season. “We had planned some experiences like a romantic picnic by the lake and if the weather allows we will probably promote those activities through June and July,” says Prabhu.
Briarwood Homestays is also likely to extend activities like trekking and visits to their tea factory, among others, to attract more families. “If schools remain shut for extended durations, some families might plan a trip,” says Tharini.
However, the biggest challenge homestays say they will face is profitability. “We have been shut through the most of peak season, which usually gives us revenue to tide through the rest of the year. Unless we see a high volume of guests through the year, even breakeven is going to be a challenge,” says a homestay manager in Anaikatti.
According to him, they are unlikely to call back most of their staff from North-East and other parts of the country unless business picks up to at least 40%. “Otherwise, we won’t be able to pay them full salaries.”
Other challenge they face is the safety of their guests and staff. “While we have already decided on temperature checks before admitting our guests, we are waiting for some government guidance on other safety protocols we have to put in place,” says Tharini.
Junaid also says they are awaiting more guidelines from the Federation of Hotel and Restaurant Associations of India (FHRAI) and Food Safety and Standards Authority of India (FSSAI). “We will also follow the procedures put in place by our district magistrate. This includes requesting a medical certificate from our guests and travel history before we confirm their reservation.”