Chennai’s hoteliers are a very upbeat lot as the upcoming SKAL World Congress from October 19-24, 2003, promises a full house after long time.

SKAL, an international networking body for the travel trade, hold its international meets in various locations across the world. This is the first time India will be the host country. The hoteliers are happy as the Chennai event will attract around 1,500 international visitors, thus translating in room nights being occupied, without the hassle of hard sell. According to Manoj Virmani, president of SKAL’s India chapter and general manager, Park Sheraton & Towers, Chennai, ”About 1,000 rooms a day have already been blocked during the conference.”

Delegate packages have been classified as ’deluxe’ and ’first class’. Eleven hotels, including the main venue, the ITC Park Sheraton & Towers, have been short listed for visiting SKAL delegates. Says Virmani, “We are offering a value-for-money deal, with the registration package comprising room tariff, meals for five days, sightseeing trips during the Congress, entertainment programmes, all inclusive of taxes.” Sonika Jain, director of sales of the Taj group in Chennai, is confident that the conference will generate a definite increase in revenue. “There will definitely be a buoyancy in revenue. We are expecting 100 per cent occupancy across all the hotels (That have been chosen for the Congress),” says Jain, with both the Taj Connemara and the Taj Coromandel featuring on the list of deluxe hotels.

The most expensive package at US$ 1,660, offers a double room at a deluxe hotel, with the add-ons of gala dinners, cultural performances and city tours. Delegates can book extra nights at city hotels for eight days before and after the Congress dates, rooms come at special discounted rate - the average rate per room is a mere US$ 100.

The city hotelier’s feel this opportunity is not about merely setting cash registers ringing, but about building relationships with visiting delegates.