Mumbaiites dig deep into their pockets for New Year

Around two days after the Taj Mahal Palace hotel in Colaba opened its New Year's Eve package sale last week, Casablanca - an exclusive private dining room for a couple overlooking the sea - was the one of the first to get booked.

Around two days after the Taj Mahal Palace hotel in Colaba opened its New Year's Eve package sale last week, Casablanca - an exclusive private dining room for a couple overlooking the sea - was the one of the first to get booked.



The fine-dining experience worth Rs40,000 is the most expensive deal offered by the hotel and comprises a seven-course Mediterranean cuisine meal and unlimited alcohol.

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"Although we are not hosting a gala event at the hotel, all our restaurants are heavily booked," said Gaurav Pokhariyal, general manager, Taj Mahal Palace, Mumbai.

Till Wednesday, bookings for December 31 evening at five-star properties and high-end pubs in the city, indicated that the fat price tags have not deterred Mumbaiites from partying.

For instance, all 13-luxury suites at Sahara Star, which cost between Rs75,000 and Rs90,000 have been sold out for New Year's eve. People who have booked these high-end rooms would get the best view of a performance by Bollywood actors such as Neha Dhupia and Jaqueline Fernandez.

The deal also comprises a night's stay, brunch and take away gifts such as a champagne bottle.

"Almost 80% of packages across all categories are sold out since we are hosting one of biggest New Year bashes in the city. Bookings are 20% higher as compared to last year," said Rajesh Mohan, head of strategy, Sahara Star.

City pubs are experiencing a similar rush too. All the 16 pods available for reservation at Lower Parel's pub, Blue Frog, are already sold out. The cost of reserving these tables was Rs6,500 per person.

"A few pods and bar chairs are available for those buying low-price passes. We would give them away on first-come-first-serve basis," said Tina Kapur, public relations and communication manager at Blue Frog. Victor and the Crown, a city-based rock-n-roll band, would perform the night's gig.

At Tryst, a club at Phoenix Mills, Lower Parel, five out of the nine VVIP tables were sold out by Wednesday. The cost of a seat at these tables is Rs13,000.

"The luxury of booking a VVIP table is that one gets a separate dance floor and butler service," said Sunny Jain, director, Purple Stone entertainment, an event management firm organising the New Year's bash at Tryst.