Home / COMMENT / Hospitality Trends / The inglorious IPL

Punam Mohandas, Editor.

So much has happened this month that one scarcely knows where to start. Beginning with the latest then, The Oberoi Mumbai re-opened finally on the 24th of April.

Surely a momentous event for all employees who were put through mortal peril during the November 2008 terror attacks, and a historic one for PRS Oberoi who sets a new benchmark with this; the renovations are said to have been to the tune of US$35-40 million, with a substantial amount of that on security.

The hotel is making all the headlines - praise god for the right reasons this time – and the team is gung-ho about regaining lost ground rapidly.

Story continues below

Advertisement

COMMENT Comment on this article

The HICSA was the big hospitality event for April, where friends and rivals alike gathered under one roof. A great networking opportunity, it had ten global CEO’s in attendance, besides general managers from neighbouring countries and the new chairman of PATA. For us, it was a splendid interaction with industry veterans and we have some great reading for you this issue in the form of guest columns and an exclusive interview with Hiran Cooray.

Needless to say though, all has been effectively overshadowed by the IPL controversy. This should teach us all that too much of a tweet can be too much of a good thing. Don’t know about Lalit Modi, but Shashi Tharoor has certainly let down many who thought he was astute and had far to go, with his injudicious comments.

A new spin to this sorry saga is hoteliers jumping onto the IPL bandwagon and screaming foul (sorry, couldn’t hold that one back!) A report in the Midday alleges hoteliers are asking for an enquiry into the franchisees as well; apparently, Multi-Screen Media (MSM), the IPL telecasting agency, had given franchisees the authority to collect TV rights payments.

Narayan Alva, president of the Indian Hotel and Restaurant Association, has been quoted by the publication as saying that this was a part of the IPL scam and the Income Tax department should question every franchisee.

In the same report, Pradeep Shetty, chairman of HRAWI for the legal matters sub-committee, pitched it even more strongly when he said the franchisees had illegally extracted money from hotels and restaurants across India. We bring you an exclusive report on this latest twist to the tale, having spoken with indignant hoteliers and restaurateurs who have borne the brunt of not only a scam but police harrassment as well.

And to think this financial Humpty Dumpty was brought down only because of two men and their egos and a friendship gone sour – and the vast, open, inviting space of the websphere beckoned for all the airing of this dirty linen. I guess this should teach us to leave tweeting to the birds, hmm?