NEW DELHI: The Covid-ravaged hospitality sector could soon see big M&As with several stressed owners wanting to exit the business by selling to the Big Boys.
Oberoi Group MD and CEO Vikram Oberoi has told TOI that he has been approached by some owners who wish to sell their properties.
“Whether it is a result of Covid or something else, I can’t say, but (some) hotels are up for sale.” Asked if the group is considering such offers made to it, the veteran of Indian hospitality said: “Some owners have approached us.
What we are hoping is that people would come to us to manage their hotels, which is what we are really focussing on even before the pandemic.
We will continue to focus on management contracts as an area of growth.” The combined debt on scores of existing and under-construction organised sector hotels at in India is estimated Rs 50,000 crore.
Several asset owners and investors under financial stress will look for exit or reducing debt that will accelerate M&As, according to Mandeep S Lamba, real estate services company HVS ANAROCK’s president (south Asia).
The devastating second Covid wave hit the entire travel industry — including hospitality — just when the sector was hoping for revival in fortunes since last winter.
“There was virtually no business during the second wave.
There was no need to shut most hotels as there were no bookings in many places.
Travel had come to a standstill.
City hotels had some long stay guests.
Some elderly people checked-in due to outbreak of Covid at their homes,” he said.
Such was the level of concern among people this time that three guests who had checked-in at Oberoi’s Wildflower Hall in Shimla before the second wave stayed there for almost three months and left the place only after the pandemic situation started improving.
The revival in travel when the deadly second wave ebbed has been quick and everyone has their fingers crossed that there is no third wave.
“Business is picking up again in leisure destinations like Udaipur and Shimla.
Our Shimla properties are seeing 70-80% occupancy.
While city hotels can’t be said to be doing well, they are faring better than last year (immediately post lockdown),” he said.
The Oberoi Group has vaccinated all its eligible employees, both those directly on its payrolls and third party contractual workers.
The hospitality major feels that revival of travel industry rests on everyone getting Covid jabs.
“A start can be made with domestic travel with the fully vaccinated getting exempt from RT-PCR testing requirements on a uniform basis across the country.
Once this goes well, the same should be considered to be replicated for international travel,” Oberoi said.