The Hindu Business Line : Taj to hike room tariffs from October 1

Mumbai, Sept. 4 Indian Hotels Company said on Tuesday that it will raise room tariffs at its properties in India by an average of 15 per cent from October 1.

“The hotel industry usually raises rates once a year in India, from October, when the tourist season begins. This year, we plan to hike room tariffs by 15 per cent on average,” said Mr Raymond Bickson, Managing Director and CEO of Indian Hotels Company, on the sidelines of signing a marketing alliance between Taj Hotels Resorts and Palaces and Okura Hotels & Resorts.

He also said the company is looking for tie-ups in countries within three to five hours of flying time from India. “Chinese market is also important to us, though we do not have anything on the horizon right now, we are open to all options, which could be marketing alliance, management contract or acquisition.”

Tariff structure

Also, Indian Hotels has moved to rupee tariff structure starting September 1 from the earlier dollar tariff, he added. The company had announced the same at the AGM held last month.

It was said that the change across its Indian properties would be keeping in line with the global practice of charging a uniform rate to domestic and foreign customers, and also because of the appreciating rupee.

On the occupancy rate, Mr Bickson said the company expects occupancy rates at the hotels to move up to 80 to 85 per cent in the second-half of the current fiscal year ending March 31, 2008. The company expects to close the first half ending September 30 with average occupancy rates of about 70 to 80 per cent.

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