Going by the way 2021 rolled out, it wasn’t the year for new hotel openings. Yet India saw a number of major new hotels, from marquee international brands entering the country to domestic brands expanding their footprint. Arguably none saw more expansion than ITC’s Welcomhotel, which saw new Welcomhotels in Bhubaneswar, Katra, Chail, Shimla late last year and the launch of Welcomhotel Guntur earlier this month. “ITC Hotels’ growth story is driven by an asset right strategy,” says Anil Chadha, Chief Executive, ITC Hotels. “Welcomhotel continues to be one of India’s fastest growing hospitality brands, spreading its footprint far and wide. The brand witnessed strong recovery due to vaccination drives and reopening of business with the ease of restrictions that encouraged more footfalls. Domestic tourism began to flourish with Indians making short trips and exploring the unexplored gems of India along with the prominent tourist destinations. Present in locations ranging from hills to beaches, and deserts to cities, the hotels skilfully blend together local aesthetics and modern-day comforts along with ITC Hotels' renowned culinary expertise.” Rising up to challenges Of course, the previous couple of years have been unprecedented for the industry, and ITC too has responded in several ways. “The ‘WeAssure’ initiative aims at enhancing the existing hygiene & cleaning protocols across all Welcomhotels addressing every facet of operations,” explains Chadha. “The promise of delightful experiences is enriched by stringent hygiene standards to enjoy unparalleled comfort with peace of mind. Both our city as well as resort destinations have picked up pace with domestic travel feeding off pent-up demand. We also expect international tourism to get back on track with increasing ease of restrictions globally.” The pandemic surely altered the shape of the industry particularly due to the lockdowns and travel restrictions throughout thereby significantly restricting the footfalls, admits Chadha. “We worked as a team to face this unforeseen challenge to maintain stability in the business. We ensured that we use this time towards developing new properties and elevating health and hygiene protocols. ITC Hotels’ Feel Good Menu was also thoughtfully designed and packed with local flavour and immunity-boosting ingredients in dishes that are delectable and healthy. Witnessing the steady recovery, I can proudly say that we are surely blessed with the most reliable and efficient support from all our team members, associates and partners.” All major hospitality brands saw a drop in business travel in 2020, with leisure travel emerging as the bright spot for most. “While there is no single trend that applies to all leisure destinations, we are seeing an overall upswing across the board,” says Chadha. “Occupancies across business destinations are growing steadily, driven by a mix of business travel and leisure stays.”
-
The new Welcomhotel, Katra
