It’s not just about the moolah
It is a known fact that hospitality industry took a hit because of the pandemic. But now, things are slowly getting back to normal and restaurants are on the road to recovery. Besides weekends, festivals and other events on the calendar are a time when restaurants across the city see sizeable footfall.
“Every day is about financial recovery now. But yes, festivals are something we restauranteurs are always optimistic about to cover up for the nonoperational or slower pandemic-affected months,” says Avik Chatterjee, director, Speciality Restaurants. Though the ease of lockdown restrictions by the government has helped many hospitality brands sustain, Pawan Shahri, managing partner at Butterfly Fly, The Bigg Small Café + Bar, London Taxi, and Oi Kitchen and Bar, says festivals are a bonus. “Since the government relaxed the rules for hospitality, our brands have been slowly getting back to pre-Covid-19 numbers. However, we definitely get a premium on special days and festivals,” he shares.
However, some restauranteurs don’t agree with the term recovery being associated with these special days of the year. Hitesh Keswani, owner, Silver Beach Hospitality, says, “I don’t think recovery is the word I’d like to use here. Festivals are taken very seriously in India. They are not just days, but sentiments. Yes, festivals do help boost our sales, but more importantly, it builds spirit and spreads positivity. The energy is different in the restaurant during a celebration.”
Ronak Rochlani, owner, Keiba, adds that festivals and special days have always been high ticketed and sought-after days for the hospitality industry as diners seek memorable experiences for their celebrations and special occasions. “Currently, not much has changed, except that guests are more sceptical about where they want to go,” he states, adding, “You have to always be on top of your game to survive in this industry by connecting with your guests or making them feel safe and giving them the best possible experience.”
We’re optimistic about festivals to cover up for the pandemicaffected period. AVIK CHATTERJEE,
Director, Speciality Restaurants