Last Updated: October 03, 2023, 14:23 IST
Ahmedabad is witnessing the most bookings during the World Cup event.
The upcoming cricket event has driven up bookings for accommodations in host cities, especially where India is slated to play.
After twelve years, the cricket World Cup is making a grand comeback to India. As the country is all set to host the World Cup championship, the demand for match tickets and anticipation around the event is at an all-time high. Not only this, but the sporting event has led to an escalation in the fares of airlines and hotels. As the World Cup coincides with the festive season, the hospitality industry is set to benefit the most.
The upcoming event has led to increased bookings for accommodations in host cities, especially where India is slated to play. If the booking trends of MakeMyTrip, OYO, and Yatra Online are something to go by, Ahmedabad, Hyderabad, Bangalore, Delhi, Kolkata, and Dharamshala are among the cities where the demand is soaring high.
“Bookings for accommodation facilities, including hotels and homestays, in all cities where the Indian Indian cricket team is slated to play, are now exhibiting a significant uptrend,” MakeMyTrip Co-founder and Group CEO Rajesh Magow informed. He added that match-day bookings in Ahmedabad witnessed a 200 per cent uptick in accommodation bookings, including hotel and homestays.
Meanwhile, an OYO spokesperson, while speaking to ETimes, said, “We are experiencing a more than usual surge in demand in the host cities, specifically Ahmedabad, Hyderabad, Bangalore, Delhi, and Kolkata, where occupancy rates exceed 60 per cent.”
He added that following the announcement of the World Cup, Ahmedabad witnessed a staggering 777 per cent increase in bookings for October and November whereas Hyderabad, Bangalore, and Delhi saw a surge of 102 per cent, 81 per cent, and 39 per cent, respectively.
The primary reason why Ahmedabad is witnessing the most bookings is because the city will host the high-profile India vs. Pakistan match on October 14 along with the final of the tournament in the city on November 19.
Now, coming to the hike in fares of airlines, reports suggest that the airfares to the key destinations hosting the matches have increased by 2-3 times. Yatra Online Senior VP – Flights and Hotel Business, Bharatt Malik, said, “We have witnessed a surge of 15 to 20 per cent. For hotels, cities, where India is playing, have seen greater growth compared to non-India matches.”
