City hotels cash in on CPM meet

KOZHIKODE: The CPM's 20th party congress is round the corner and that has brought cheers to hotels and restaurants business in city. With over 840 delegates, many from foreign countries, planning to attend the congress, the party is busy booking rooms in various hotels in bulk.
It is for the first time that the city is playing host to the party congress set to begin on April 4."All arrangements have been made for the accommodation of delegates and rooms have already been booked in 17 prominent hotels in the city," said P T Abdul Latheef, convener of accommodation committee of the party congress.
Usually the occupancy rate during March and April is low but not this time. "There won't be much booking and occupancy during this period as it is off season. But this year all the air-conditioned rooms of the hotel have been booked for the party congress," said Karun Radhakrishnan, general manager, Hyson Heritage. In the hotel 26 out of 82 rooms have been booked by the CPM.
According to Suji Radhakrishnan, manager (operations), Malabar Palace, occupancy level and booking during this season is high compared to the previous years and 35 out of the total 52 rooms in the hotel is booked for the party congress.
He added that it has been a good season as the city hosted E K Nayanar Memorial Golden Cup Football tournament and Gender Fest.
"The party has booked 30 rooms in the hotel and still there is further demand. But as booking is almost full, we are not able to accept further bookings," said Balkrishnan, manager of the New Nalanda Hotel.