Call it cyber city, India’s Silicon Valley, garden city, or whatever you may, Bangalore has been playing host to the augmented inflow of tourists and business travelers alike, for the past decade or so. Thanks to an abundance of some of the best software professionals in the whole world, an IT savvy populace, and a co-operative Government, Bangalore has grown to become the cynosure of IT related businesses lately. Business honchos traveling down either to recruit or to set shop is a common sight in the city. The last decade has seen the inflow of business visitors widen from a steady trickle to a deluge of sorts, with multinationals intending to operate business from here. Foreign nationals coming to Bangalore in search of livelihood contribute to the reverse brain drain. The pleasant weather, and agreeable greens interspersed with places of interest that speak volumes about the culture and milieu ensure a steady influx of tourists. The vibrant night life, with a burgeoning number of pubs and discos to let hair down also beguiles tourists. All in all, Bangalore has become a world destination of sorts that magnetizes businessmen, working class, and tourists with equal zest. Today Bangalore is known as the ‘it’ city that has truly come of age.
Finding the right accommodation in a city bursting at it seams with outsiders is no child’s play. And sadly enough, the city’s hospitality industry cannot boast of analogous accommodation to match up the increasing number of outsiders coming down. Though Bangalore has a host of reputed hotel chains up its sleeve, it is difficult to find a decent accommodation at reasonable prices for a short stay here. It is indeed ignominious that a whole gamut of hotels, right from deluxe hotels, heritage hotels, luxury hotels, star hotels, airport hotels, business hotels, budget hotels and economy hotels lack the amenities to satisfy the visitor. People intending to stay a little longer have the option of going in for service apartments – there are quite a few out there – but a short stay there will eventually drain the pocket. Though some of the best names in the hospitality industry - The Oberoi, The Taj, Leela, Ashok, Le Meridian, Intercontinental, Marriot and Hyatt - have come to the rescue of visiting greats, it is the commoner, who is left with not many options at his disposal. Catering to business travelers and tourists alike, these hotels are exorbitantly priced, and considering the type of services they offer – rightly so.
Though there is no dearth of budget hotels in the city, it is the amenities provided that they lack in. A business traveler might need conference rooms, meeting halls, internet connection and a business centre within the premises, which a budget hotel most likely does not provide. Really, finding the right accommodation without burning a hole in your pocket can be a Herculean task in Bangalore. A visitor in all probability has to compromise on the service if he decides to settle down in budget lodging.
Another important aspect that a visitor looks for before settling down for a stay in the city is how far his hotel is from the major points in the city. So it is extremely essential to locate hotels at some of the most convenient spots. The lodgings must be in close proximity to the airport and railway stations, business complexes and shopping centers.
But, it’s not that dismal a picture either. Some hotels are right up to the mark in offering services to the visitor vis a vis his purpose of visit. Ista Hotel, located in the hub of the city, facilitates a good stay both for a tourist and a business visitor. Some other hotels too, are following suit to contribute for the lack of accommodation options in the city.
A whopping number of people coming to earn a livelihood have set the economy rolling. Rents are flying through the roof. Cost of real estate is at an all time high. This has had a abhorrent effect on the prices of tourist accommodation too. Let’s hope that the city soon finds an answer to the needs of its visitors.
By: Venugopal Naidu
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Venugopal Naidu is the business development head at Ista, Bangalore. Associated with Ista for the past five years, he has been active in projecting the hotel as a luxury business city hotel. Catalyzing the growing popularity of Ista, Naidu foresees a major fillip in its customer base in the near future.
