No room, say Bangalore hotels

No room, say Bangalore hotels

The Hindu

# There are over 4,700 rooms in about 66 hotels in Bangalore
# Some hotels have increased charges by 30 per cent

Bangalore: On a good day, rooms are tough to get in upmarket hotels in the city. Now with the Aero India 2007 on, there are no rooms to be had for love or money unless you have booked much ahead.

Visitors and tourists from all over the country and abroad are here in connection with the show, and if anyone thought it fit to fly in and look for a room, sorry but another time. "Bookings for the show had commenced almost a year back," said Amar Ravishankar, Sales Executive, Manager, Leela Kempinski. Some 200 rooms in his hotel have been booked by visitors to the Aero India show. "To cope with the demand, we have accommodated those who stay for a minimum four days," Mr. Ravishankar said.

There are over 4,700 rooms in about 66 hotels in Bangalore that are booked right through. And the rooms are pricey. To get a room below $350 a night has become near impossible in upmarket hotels.

A number of hotels have also upped their charges by 30 per cent.

"Not us," said Rakhi Lalvani, of the Taj Group. "Taj Residency has 160 rooms and Taj West End 117 rooms. They are now mostly occupied with Aero India visitors. Our hotels are providing transport facilities to Yelahanka for them."

ITC Windsor Sheraton and Towers is also pulling out all stops to make the guests' stay comfortable, said Rajesh Rohi, Reservation Assistant.

Ditto with The Grand Ashok. "Delegates from different countries as staying with us and we're providing special facilities for them, said Shalini Mahapatra, spokesperson for the hotel.