Following the recent announcement of the ODI World Cup fixtures by the ICC, which revealed a highly anticipated match between India and Pakistan in Ahmedabad on October 15, hotel room rates have witnessed a significant surge. On that particular day, the rates skyrocketed to as much as Rs 1 lakh, compared to the usual range of Rs 6,000-10,000 for a regular day.
For instance, according to the hotel booking portal ‘booking.com,’ the rent for a deluxe room at Welcome Hotel by ITC Hotels in Ahmedabad is Rs 5,699 for July 2. However, the same hotel will charge a staggering amount of Rs 71,999 for a one-day stay on October 15. The Renaissance Ahmedabad Hotel on SG Highway, which currently charges around Rs 8,000 per day, displaying a per-day room rent of Rs 90,679 for the match day in October. Similarly, the Pride Plaza Hotel on SG Highway has increased its rental to Rs 36,180 for that particular day.
Due to the unprecedented demand, five-star hotels in the city such as ITC Narmada, Courtyard by Marriott, Hyatt, and Taj Skyline Ahmedabad have already sold out their rooms for October 15.
Representatives from the Hotels and Restaurants Association (HRA) Gujarat stated that the prices were increased by hotels in response to the high demand, primarily from Non-Resident Indians (NRIs) and upper-middle-class cricket fans from other states. Abhijeet Deshmukh, the spokesperson for HRA-Gujarat, mentioned that hotels raise their tariffs when inquiries for specific dates start pouring in. The hoteliers capitalize on the high demand, as they are confident that the rooms will be fully booked regardless of the higher rates. Once the demand subsides, the room prices are expected to come down.
The cricket enthusiasts prefer luxury hotels and are willing to travel long distances to witness such exciting matches. Deshmukh also noted that budget hotels in the city have not experienced a similar surge yet, as middle-class cricket fans, who typically opt for such accommodations, tend to make their decisions about attending the match at the last moment.
