Alok Kumar, President of ManpowerGroup India, has revealed that there has already been a 20-25% increase in demand from both existing and new hotel properties compared to last year. This surge is driven by the relaxation of travel restrictions and the resurgence of consumer confidence in leisure and business travel.
In fact, TeamLease has predicted a significant uptick in both domestic and foreign tourism in India over the next one to two years. Domestic tourist numbers are expected to increase by 10 million, while foreign tourist arrivals are projected to grow by 20% during the same period, with a potential tripling within the next five to six years. This growth trajectory bodes well for the hotel industry.
To accommodate this increasing demand in both business and leisure travel, hotels are gearing up to expand their operations by adding more rooms, venturing into new markets, and bolstering their workforce. Their recruitment efforts will reportedly encompass a variety of positions, including permanent, temporary, and gig roles.
Chains such as Royal Orchid Hotels, Fortune Hotels, and Lemon Tree are looking to add thousands of rooms this fiscal year, for which they also plan to hire new employees in the thousands. They will particularly look to fill key positions such as front desk agents, concierges, guest relations managers, housekeeping, and maintenance staff, along with specialised roles like maintenance technicians and chefs, the report indicates.
All in all, this heightened demand is indicative of the industry's anticipated revenue growth of 7-9% in fiscal year 2025, as projected by a recent report from ratings firm ICRA.
(With inputs from The Economic Times)