The hassles of acquiring licences and the red-tapism involved was a huge dampener for hoteliers organising parties in the city, who grumbled of making just 50 per cent business on New Year’s Eve as compared to the past year.

Hoteliers alleged that the news of video shooting of parties and various conditions set to acquire a licence left them helpless. Additionally, owing to the problems of licences, they weren’t given sufficient time to promote their parties, resulting in fewer footfalls.