Shimla: You can now instantly reserve your room and pay by credit card with the click of a mouse at the choicest of Himachal Pradesh Tourism Development Corporation (HPTDC) hotels.
“After Kerala, Himachal has become the second state in the country to provide online instant booking and confirmation of accommodation and online payment by credit card,” said Tarun Sridhar, managing director, HPTDC.
“Two years ago we had started online booking but for this the customer had to send us the booking amount by mail or deposit the amount at our marketing offices in metropolitan centres,” he said.
Earlier, one could also assign the job to a travel agent. “But now our customers can simply book online and pay by credit card,” Sridhar said. “Launched a couple of days ago, we are already getting responses from all over the country,” he said.
Resorts across the state have begun to attract tourists in large numbers as the heat intensifies in the plains.
Officials said the service can be availed of by logging on to the HPTDC’s website, www.hptdc.gov.in. The website displays the status of HPTDC’s occupancy and availability of rooms for the next fortnight.
If a customer does not possess a credit card, he can carry out the booking by visiting the nearest HPTDC marketing office or by sending the advance money by mail to such an office and later confirm the status online.
“Once the money is paid by credit card, a confirmation slip is generated which can be printed and used as a booking voucher by the customer,” Sridhar said.
“To avoid misuse of credit card a customer has to submit an identity proof to the hotel staff before checking in,” he said.
HPTDC soon plans to provide this online booking facility for reservation of its luxury buses besides a host other services provided by the state-run company which include trekking, skiing, paragliding, river-rafting and angling.
HPTDC has over 50 tourism properties all over the picturesque state and in some of the best locations too. Many of these hotels are the most sought after places for holidaymakers from across the country and overseas.
An IT professional for 17 years, based in the US since the last 12 years. Founded NGO My Himachal and then Himachal Media Pvt. Ltd.. A Himachali forever. Always trying to bring together people whose hearts beat for the state.
