Lukewarm response, but hotels happy

The hype, craze and clamouring for tickets might be missing from the second season of India’s Formula 1 race but hotels near the Buddh International Circuit are not complaining.

The hype, craze and clamouring for tickets might be missing from the second season of India’s Formula 1 race but hotels near the Buddh International Circuit are not complaining.

HT Image

“The F1 Grand Prix has definitely increased demand and our rooms at Hilton and DoubleTree by Hilton Mayur Vihar are booked to capacity. Our hotels are one of the closest to the racing track,” said Scott Thomson, general manager of the hotels. He said the hotels are corporate partners of team Vodafone McLaren Mercedes and rooms were booked in July this year. Though the hotel declined to comment on the spike in tariff, he said the booking rates have gone up by 15% from last year.

http://www.hindustantimes.com/Images/Popup/2012/10/20_10_12-metro4c.jpg

The Radisson Blu Hotel, Greater Noida, is also next to the circuit and is completely booked by racing teams months in advance. “The bookings are exactly the same as last year as 95% rooms were blocked by teams,” said Suraj Kumar Jha, the hotel’s general manager.

Akshay Kulkarni, regional director (hospitality) South and Southeast Asia, Cushman and Wakefield, said the excitement surrounding is seeing a dip as it is a nascent sport and the novelty value is missing now.