Hotels in Dimapur affected by Covid struggle to regain footing

Our Reporter
Dimapur, Nov. 3 (EMN): The pandemic has caused countless closings of business establishments and massive layoffs, especially in the hospitality industry. Now, hotels are trying to figure out how to create a 'new normal' in what could probably be the worst affected year for the hospitality industry.

The general manager of Hotel Acacia in Dimapur, Vikhonuo informed Eastern Mirror that they are sanitising the hotel and following all the safety precautions so that 'everyone is safe, especially the staff and monitor all the SOP.'

"When people from outside the state check- in the hotel, after 48 hours they have to test for Covid-19 if the occupants need to stay longer," she said.
The general manager added that business would take time to catch up and 'moreover people are very precocious not only from other states even local people occupants are very less.'

Vikhonuo shared that "everyone clearly knows that it would take time to pick it (business) up as people are still scared" and added that 'only those people who have no option but to travel are the ones checking in the hotels.'

"It is not that bad also but can say that, it is bad compared to last year, yes the occupancy is very less," Vikhonuo added.

Vikhonuo also mentioned that they would get a lot of bookings for events earlier as they have a conference and banquet hall with a sitting capacity of about 200 people. However due to the pandemic, only a few events have been held with around 20 to 25 people as 'people are still reluctant to come out.'

Vikhonuo added that for the months of October, November and December,' all the halls used to be booked for events but till now only two events were held after normal operation started' adding that 'it is very low.'

She further informed that they were running the hotel with limited staff at the moment due to fewer occupants. Moreover, employees who had leave to their native village could not return back due to transportation problems, she said.

"During this pandemic the occupants were frontline workers and they occupied the hotel for about four to five months and in one way it was helpful for the hotel," she said and added that salaries of the employees were paid but during the pandemic, only the working days were paid as the business revenue was 'very low.'

The general manager of Niathu Resort, Anthony Nilli Chasteii informed that the pandemic had affected the business drastically with 'zero business' during the lockdown.

The manager said that the only occupants were the task force team of Covid-19 and the occupants were around 8 to 9 percent as compared to regular days; which comes around 60 to 70 percent. He added that 'thankfully during the institutional quarantine period no one was tested positive who were quarantined at Niathu Resort.'

Chasteii added that on an average, the occupancy at the moment is around 27 to 28 percent only and added that 'November should be a good month.'

"When the hotels were allowed to roll back operation, the hotel management did not compromise on the standard of SOP, especially on health issues," he said and added that 'whether it is pandemic or not they always maintained the hygienic care, especially for the safety of their staff and guests.'

When queried about the procedure of the visitors to check in the hotel, the general manager said that the visitors have to provide medical certification which states 'Covid-19 negative' and 'this is valid for 48 hours only, after which they have to follow all the SOP by the state government.'

When queried about the employees' situation, Chasteii said "during this pandemic as a company, they have not laid off a single employee" but they took leaves turn- wise so that no employee was laid off and were paid when they worked, 'as the revenue generation was very low.'

With regard to the facilities provided at Niathu Hotels and Resorts, Chasteii said that they have saloons, gym, basketball court and a swimming pool. However, swimming is not allowed in order to maintain the protocol. They make sure that the facilities are allowed to be used only after being sanitised, he said.

Chasteii also added they have a conference and banquet hall as well as private dining on the banks of Chathe river and arrangements are made as per requirements, and added that according to SOP, only 100 persons are allowed. He informed that all the attendants for any event have reduced drastically in order to maintain the SOP.

When queried about the business situation at the moment, Chasteii said that business is slowly picking up but 'it is not what it used to be.' He added that when they inform customers about the SOP procedure to check-in at Niathu Resort, a few customers are hesitant to book the room and added that even though it has affected the business, they never compromised on hygiene and Covid protocol.

The general manager of Hotel Saramati, Florence informed that they hardly get four to five rooms booked at the moment and 'most of the time nil.' Earlier they would have at least ten occupants, it was informed.

Florence added that in Dimapur, 'a lot of hotels have come up and competition has increased a lot. It has affected the business and even the pandemic has affected as well.'

The general manager informed that they follow all the SOP and do not allow more than 100 people in an event. It was also informed that a 'medical team used to stay up in the hotel but till now they have not received payment from the government side.' She added that it has been pending for some time.

The general manager of Hotel Lake Shilloi, Mhathung said that pandemic has affected a lot as compared to normal days but during the pandemic, the medical team and returnees occupied the hotel rooms.

The general manager added that the hotel falls under ‘A’ category and it allows the hotel management to fix the price rate but due to this pandemic, the hotel management decided to give a 50 percent discount for the occupants as a 'gesture of helping hand to the people.'

Mhathung added that the discount facilities as well as other expenses incurred by the hotel has affected the business a lot. He added that the hotel used to be fully booked at this time with around 34 rooms. However, only 8 to 10 rooms are occupied nowadays, he said.

When queried about the salaries of the employees, Mhathung informed that all the salaries were cleared and added that 'business is running very low.' The hotel is running by around 50 to 60 percent staff at the moment, he informed.

Mhathung also informed that the DMC sanitises the hotel and its surroundings once a week for safety precaution and added that the business is slowly improving 'but the changes are on a very small scale.' He added that even though rooms are not occupied fully, people have started to come to the restaurant for meals.