Dharamshala: A week since the Federation of Hotel & Restaurant Associations of India (FHRAI) put MakeMyTrip and GoIbibo on notice, hotels in the Dharamshala city have been approached individually by the Online Travel Aggregators (OTAs) for renegotiating terms. Dharamshala Hotel & Restaurant Association (DHA Dharamshala) has stated that individual hotels have been offered reduced commissions and other renegotiated terms in the contracts by the said OTAs.
“Dharamshala Hotel Association DHA pledges allegiance to the bigger cause of the hoteliers and is determined to break the divisive business practice adopted by OTAs,” says Mr. Ashwani Bamba, President and Mr Sanjeev Gandhi, Honorary Secretary, DHA Dharamshala.
However based on the previous experiences, the hotels have decided to refuse accepting any negotiations that are customized and have demanded a uniform business ethic. The Association held a meeting recently to receive feedback and opinion from its hotel members on the issue, and has unanimously agreed to stand with FHRAI by not buying into the OTAs’ temporary promises.
“It has been brought to our attention from our regional Associations as well as from member hotels that the OTAs have reached out to them individually. We have been told that the OTAs are trying to pacify them by offering renegotiated terms. But hoteliers have realized that such hastily made amends to the contracts and reduced commissions by the OTAs are temporary fixes which will come back a full cycle, just as it has in the past. We wish to thank the DHA Dharamshala for being judicious while making their decision to refuse individual talks with the OTAs. The FHRAI is committed to set things right with the OTAs and non-cooperation from their end will be dealt with a nation-wide protest, as has been our stance,” concludes Mr Gurbaxish Singh Kohli, Vice President – FHRAI & President – Hotel and Restaurant Association of Western India (HRAWI).
The Federation of Hotel & Restaurant Associations of India (FHRAI) is the apex body of the Indian Hospitality industry. Founded in 1955, the association has diligently built on its rich legacy and is today privileged to serve as the leading voice of our industry and plays a seminal role in supporting the growth trajectory of India’s hospitality and tourism sector.
Arvind Sharma is an award winning bi-lingual journalist with more than 20 years of experience.
He has worked with Divya Himachal, Dainik Jagran, Dainik Bhasker, Vir Partap, Ajit and PTI.
In 2010, he was conferred the Himachal Kesri journalism award. He reports on the Tibetan Government in Exile, politics, sports, tourism and other topics. He lives in Dharamshala.
