Companies across the world have moved to work-from-home mode to stop the spread of the Coronavirus. But some hotels and resorts in and around Kovalam are tempting clients to work from the comforts of a beachside room. Facilities are being provided at discounted rates, inclusive of food.
Discounted rates
Newton’s Neelakanta Boutique Beach Resort promises to provide an air-conditioned co-working space. “It is for groups of four people each and the rate is ₹900 per person, which covers lunch and bottled water. They can use the room from 8 am to 6 pm. They will have to arrange for Wi-fi because our facility won’t be enough to support a co-working space,” says Ajish Nambiar, who runs the resort.
And it is an additional ₹1,100 per night for two people if they plan on staying in the resort. “The special rates are for this particular period. Our business has been severely hit by the spread of the virus. The inflow of foreign tourists has dried up and we have stopped taking domestic guests as well. So we needed to find an alternative to keep the resort running. That’s how we came up with this idea. We have been getting calls enquiring about the facilities. We are looking at small groups who have to work as a team but can’t go to their office,” he adds.
Uday Samudra Leisure Beach Hotel and Spa has come up with a one-month package for those who want to work from the hotel. “We have set aside 20-25 rooms for this purpose and have already got two clients, both working in Technopark. Instead of our usual rate of ₹ 1.35 lakh a month per head, we are giving the rooms for ₹45,000 per person, which comes to ₹1,500 per day. For two people we are charging ₹59,000 after a discount,” says Rajagopaal Iyer, CEO of the hotel.
He adds that the guests can also opt to work in the open area, especially from spaces such as the coffee shop. There will be no restriction on the timings. The hotel has only basic Wi-fi facilities. However, arrangements will be made to provide better network, he adds.
In addition, there is a 50 percent discount on breakfast, lunch, dinner, spa, Ayurveda and free usage of pool and gym. “We have an in-house doctor who is available round-the-clock to provide any medical care for the guests,” Rajagopaal says.
Both of them emphasise that the staff members of the hotel have been asked to ensure minimum contact with the guests. “We also expect the guests to take necessary precautions,” says Ajish.
OFF THE MENU
For the time being, many gourmets have switched to cook-it-yourself mode. Though restaurateurs feel the pinch over the triple effects of restrictions imposed over containing spread of Coronavirus, a bird flu scare, which was earlier reported in northern parts of the State, and an exodus of migrant staff, many are upbeat about turning a corner soon. Muhammad Shakeer, owner of Thaqwa restaurant in Enchakkal, says that there is a slight spike in takeaways from his diner. “Beef and mutton dishes are having more takers than chicken dishes,” says Shakeer.
Sukil Ram of Poomaram – Ram’s Kitchen near Akkulam off the Kazhakkuttam highway, says focus now is now more on meals, vegetarian dishes and fish, of course,” he explains. With a sizeable number of employees in the industry hailing from Northern parts of the country, some hoteliers face the task of convincing their staff to stay put against “fake news and misinformation” about spread of the virus. However, quite a few have downed shutters after several of their staff decided to return home. Despite the grim outlook, restaurateurs say they prefer to see the glass as half full and hope things will be back on track soon
Harikumar JS
