Delhi hotels curse the Commonwealth Games
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Hundreds of Delhi hotel rooms lie vacant as the Commonwealth Games (CWG) fails to deliver on its promise. As India approaches the halfway point for the CWG and big events such as the men’s 100 metres already decided, visitor numbers are by all accounts hugely disappointing. Though exact figures are not available, reports of empty stadium seats go to show that initial tourism estimates have in no way materialised. Meanwhile hoteliers are suffering as their optimistic investments are not paying off. The Business Standard reports that half of the rooms reserved by the Games Travel Office were handed back to the hotels. This equates to approximately 3,000 rooms across 125 hotels in the Capital. As rooms stand empty, hopes are being pinned on the domestic market and hotels are piling on the value added services to attract a sparse client base. After a prolonged period of escalating room rates, guests can now pick up free airport pickups, spa treatments, tours and more. With a scourge of leisure travellers and corporate travellers steering clear for the Games duration, October is set to be a bad month for Delhi’s hospitality industry.
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