New Year festivities out of hotels this year

Keeping in mind the devastation caused by the floods in Chennai and its neighbouring districts, the members of the Tamil Nadu Hotels Association (TNHA) have decided to cancel their New Year’s celebrations this year.

The organisation has more than 10,000 affiliated members comprising small to medium sized restaurants, hotels and resorts in 32 districts across the State. 

A statement issued by this hospitality industry body, said that its members were instructed to direct their efforts towards flood relief and rehabilitation activities.

Speaking about the decision, M Venkadasubbu, the president of the association and Managing Director of Darling Residency, Vellore says, “The members unanimously and voluntarily voted for a complete cancellation of all celebratory events for the New Year in the State this year. 

However, some event management companies that had booked halls up to three months in advance, prior to the floods, have decided to proceed with their programmes, but without much fanfare. If these properties were to cancel their events, some of which have been organised with help from foreign operators, they would incur massive losses.” 

He adds that even Christmas celebration in Chennai and around the State was a solemn affair as people were conscious about the suffering of many victims, who were yet to be rehabilitated completely. 

R Srinivasan, Secretary of TNHA says that several hotels and restaurants across the coastal districts of Tamil Nadu had faced major losses owing to inundation and the subsequent damage of equipment and infrastructure. 

Adding to their burden is the cancellations of holiday reservations. He says, “Even in a regular year, most hotels are unable to make significant monetary gains from the New Year as a big part of their budgets are dedicated to publicity and preparations for the celebrations. 

This year, we have taken a conscious decision to keep off the revelries and channel our efforts into helping rebuild the lives of those affected, like we have been doing since the beginning of this month.”