Punjab's hotel industry holds promise

Ludhiana/Chandigarh, Dec.15 (ANI): The global economic slowdown not withstanding, the hospitality industry of Punjab is continuing to prosper.

Corporation Limited, a wholly-owned subsidiary of the Indian Hotels Company Limited, launched its GenNext `Smart Basics' Hotel in Ludhiana recently.With its 99-room Ginger Hotel in Punjab's industrial town, the company is trying to sustain its growth.

The purpose behind Ginger hotel was to create a unique `space' which should be conducive not only for guests' to relax and enjoy comfort but also for their work requirements."With this category of pricing, we feel that we are able to attract corporate customers, people who are working junior to middle executives in companies, we are able to attract business segment, people who travel for work with companies, vendors, suppliers, lawyers and auditors. And, also we are able to attract a category of customers who are traveling on leisure and who wanted a neat, clean and good quality accommodation at a very low price," said Prabhat Pani, CEO and Director, ROOTS Corporation Ltd.With the increasing influx of tourists and businessmen in Punjab, there is demand for more hotels here. Despite global slowdown, the hospitality industry in Punjab is doing well. And, this is attracting big developers.

Already, players like the Sarovar Hotel Group are in the process of developing three new hotels in Punjab and Chandigarh. The hotels in different star categories are offering their best facilities and services to their clients. The projection of Chandigarh as a tourism hub is helping in the growth of the hotel industry. "Tourism gives a multiple effect to economy and every penny, which the tourists spend in terms of accommodation, transportation, eating-out and shopping. So, I think that is got a good future here and all this recession trends will go back and tourism will be on the high agenda of the foreign tourists as well as of the domestic tourists," said A. K. Malhotra, General Manager for Marketing, CITCO.Tourists visiting Punjab from different parts of the world appreciate the culture and cuisine available in the State.

"It is probably typical of what I would expect in the city of this size in Punjab and nothing is artificial about it. I think it's a genuine Punjabi and Indian Punjabi hotel that is appealing to me as a tourist," said an Australian tourist. The music, food and robust culture have made Punjab a favoured state with tourists. The non-resident Punjabis visiting home spend handsomely, helping expansion of the hospitality industry. Considering the prevailing condition, the time looks ripe for entrepreneurs to optimize the opportunity to invest in Punjab.New York based hotelier Sant Singh Chatwal, who hails from Faridkot in Punjab, has plans to set up a 7-star hotel in his home state - Punjab. By Karan Kapoor/Sunil Sharma (ANI)