Mumbai: Whether or not they've recovered from the excesses of Diwali, many Mumbaikars are already on their way to getting ready for the next big bash of the festive season New Year's Eve
With inputs from Rashmi Menon
RUPA and Sajid Moinuddin believe in planning their holidays well in advance. For New Year's eve, they wanted to pack family and friends and head to Kashid beach, near Alibaug. As last minute New Year bookings are tough, they called up a holiday cottage last week. "On the website, the cottages were priced at Rs 10,000 per night.
When I called, the woman who picked up said the tariff for New Year's night is Rs 40,000 plus Rs 1,000 extra per person for food. Can you believe that?" says an obviously surprised Sajid. Last we heard, Sajid and Rupa are planning to spend New Year's eve at home.
On the other hand, model Asif Azim plans to go to Goa with his girlfriend and some other close friends. But he is yet to make any bookings. He says, "I will leave for Goa around December 29. Though I haven't started booking tickets or hotels, I am not worried because I have friends there."
Rajshekhar M and his friends are already planning and booking their tickets for a two-day trip to a Hyderabad resort. "My friends have called up some resorts in Hyderabad but we are yet to finalise," says Rajshekhar, who adds that Goa is out for him and his friends because their last three New Years were spent there.
"Last year we blew up Rs 50,000 per head for three days in Goa. This year, we decided not to spend money like that because ultimately we end up just drinking and having a good time within the resort. Hence, the change of venue," he laughs.
The hiked hotel tariff during the New Year is a bother. "This time my friends and I have decided to cut costs and yet have fun. While they have already booked their air tickets, I plan to book mine this week. It's on my to-do list," he says.
During New Year, prices of hotels, food, nightclubs and restaurants increase multi-fold.
Stars check in
Five star hotels which organise star nights on December 31, have already roped in Bollywood actors. While J W Marriott, Juhu, has inked a deal with Katrina Kaif to perform at their hotel, Sahara Star has approached Salman Khan for the December 31 night.
To F&B or not to F&B
Having just stepped into November, people are gearing up for the New Year by planning things in advance. The hotels specially have seen a lot of queries flooding in. With a little over a month to prepare for the festive season in a big way, people want to know what is on offer in restaurants, pubs and lounges. They want to know which place will give them the best deals this season.
Rudrojit Deb, Assistant Director, F&B, Grand Hyatt says, "People have started calling to ask about the schedule of the festivities. No bookings have been made as yet as it is too early now. The bookings will start in December. For now, people want to find out about the food, the seating plans, the pricing before zeroing in on something."
Budget travel is up
However, with the unstable world economy, the service industry claims that it has been hit, especially tour operators. Companies that provide low-budget travel solutions, like The Backpacker Co and The Wanderers, have already started getting inquiries.
Yogesh Shah of The Backpacker Co says he is getting inquiries for his Hogmanay trip for New Year, from December 30 to January 2, 2009. He says, "The group will be of only 20 people. Also, I am planning a scuba diving trip to Andaman's because that would be an experiential New Year."
Abhik Dutta of The Wanderers says that individual clients have started approaching them for travels to Kerala and other states for the New Year. But the Wanderers are planning to go to the North-East from December 25 to January 1. "But this group won't be more than 10 people," says Dutta.
Tour de force it's not
Tour operators, on the other hand, are facing the heat of recession.
Says Mandar Mandke of Strawberi Holidays, a branch that caters to Free Individual Traveller of Kesari Travels, "It is a little difficult to gauge exactly how much increase in advance bookings we have recorded this year in comparison to last year's. However, from my statistics, I understand that there is a sizeable increase in advanced bookings for New Year in 2008. Guests have booked with us for travel to Shimla and Manali during that period as early as June 2008.
"Maximum inquiries were received in September and October. November saw a drop in inquiries. Statistically, we saw a 30 per cent increase in inquiries in October for travel during New Year's eve. In November, we saw a 20 per cent drop for the same period. I guess we can safely blame the global economic condition for it."
Regarding incentives, Mandke says that every guest inquiring with them knows that booking early means saving costs. "The closer we get to December, the higher go the costs: air tickets, hotels and other things. Offers from hotels and suppliers that we contract with are subsequently passed on to the guests. Incentive is an all-year strategy now," he adds.
Jitendra Gursahani, director of travelmartindia.com too says that his business is hit by the recession, "In the last three to four months, there is a 30 to 40 per cent hit and it's bad. November and December is seen as a busy time but this year, that's not the case. Even corporates have cut off their travel plans. If a corporate person was travelling from Mumbai to Delhi on a two-day trip, he now travels to Delhi in the morning and is back by evening, thereby saving on hotel charges. Some corporates are also resorting to video conferencing. As for families travelling, I think we have taken a hit of about 15 to 20 per cent this year."
Fit hai toh hit hai
But there is good news for the gym owners. Leena Mogre, Director of Leena Mogre Fitness, says she's been getting inquires for New Year already. In fact, from November 15, she has started a one-and-a-half-month short-term membership for those wanting to look fit for the New Year's eve bash. "Of course, we don't promise a reduction of ten kilos but three to five kilos are possible. We concentrate on workouts and controlled diets." Every year she gets around 30 new people enrolling for this package.
Vikram Aditya Bhatia, MD of Fitness First, India, says that his gym never has this short-term gymming programmes for the simple reason that Fitness First believes in overall health throughout the year. He does have a New Year plan though. Bhatia says, "Every year we have a New Year programme which starts from January to mid-year because that's when people take resolutions to keep healthy for the coming year. But there are no discounts and no short-cuts."
Devaki Kimji, director, Five Fitness Club, says that the year-end is the peak season for the gyms. Five Fitness offers a 20 per cent discount and this year too, despite recession, patrons haven't stopped coming.
"Gymming is no longer a luxury. It's become a necessity. Hence, in the nine gyms we have across Mumbai, we have been getting inquires. New people are enrolling because with the Diwali just getting over, they have about a month and a half to get back into shape for the New Year's," says Khimji.
But she adds, "The interest varies as per location. My gym in Kandivli may not see too much increase in new members but for those staying in Juhu and Cuffe Parade fitness is a big deal."
People want a foot start
Even when it comes to dance, takers rise, "Classes pick up by the end of November, right till the end of December," says Aanchal Gupta, founder/director of the dance studio Arts in Motion. Classes popular during this time are Salsa and Latin Ballroom dances. The studio also offers another Latin dance form called Bachata especially during this period.
Self-beautification begins
Another group unperturbed by the recession is the city's cosmetic surgeons. They are seeing an increased number of patients gearing up for the New Year.
Every year, Dr Meenakshi Agarwal, a cosmetologist, sees a rise in patients by 30 to 40 per cent during this season. And this year is not different. "We were expecting a drop in numbers but we haven't seen any yet. I think people are always worried about their looks no matter what the financial condition is.
And as New Year is coming nearby, they are not compromising on their looks," says Dr Agarwal, who says she has already started receiving queries from patients, who want to get treatment before the New Year's Eve. She reasons that everyone wants to look fresh and good during that time and so, come for treatments in advance.
Dr Purnima Mhatre, a cosmetic dermatologist, notices a similar rise in patients coming for treatment. She feels that people are also gearing up for Christmas along with the New Year. Agreeing with her, Dr Abhijeet Desai, a cosmetic dermatologist, says that Botox, fillers, laser hair removal, skin tightening and body glow are the popular ones, while in surgical it would be liposuction and male mastectomy.
"The queries start coming from November. This is because it's the wedding season, which stretches to New Year's too. Everyone wants to look their best," says Dr Desai, who consults around 30-40 patients in a month. He hasn't felt a decline in the flow of patients either.
For Dr Suchetan Pradhan, an aesthetic implant and laser dentist, the business goes up by 20 per cent in November and December. He says, "Most people go for teeth whitening, cleaning and polishing. Some also come to get smile designing done."
Dr Pradhan also gets a lot of patients from abroad, who come down either to attend weddings of relatives or for vacation. As far as the recession is concerned, Dr Pradhan is expecting a slowdown. "However, it hasn't hit us till now.
I expect lot of people from abroad coming in for treatment, as our treatments are cheaper. Hopefully, that will compensate for lesser Indians coming for treatment,"
he says.
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