Indian Railways’ catering and e-ticketing arm, Indian Railway Catering and Tourism Corporation (IRCTC) and Federation of Hotel and Restaurant Associations of India (FHRAI) have collaborated to give hotel accommodations to vacationers. The collaboration will enable FHRAI’s hotel members as nicely as its regional associations to give their inventory for sale as on line accommodation partners by way of the tourism internet site of IRCTC and its associate portal. As aspect of this collaboration, a 2% discount on the commission payable to IRCTC is supplied to 3-star category hotels or hotels with equivalent facilities. However, it is mandatory for the hotels to be affiliated to FHRAI and its regional associations.
According to Gurbaxish Singh Kohli, Vice President, FHRAI, this partnership will give the customers of IRCTC the solution to pick their preferred keep from more than 55000 hotels across the nation. The empanelled hotel chains or hotels are in the category of 3-star or above with all fundamental amenities as nicely as with international requirements of hygiene and security. Kohli additional mentioned that this will give IRCTC customers the comfort of booking high-quality rooms anyplace in the nation though booking their journey by way of the IRCTC portal.
The partnership among IRCTC and FHRAI entails empanelment of accommodation partners for 3 years period and it is extendable just about every 3 years devoid of any charges on mutually agreed terms. Apart from this, for all new applications received up to 31 July 2021, it delivers a one-time waiver of integration charges as applicable. Members are not expected to go by way of any separate process to get classified due to the fact hotels with equivalent facilities can get a certification by FHRAI.
According to Surendra Kumar Jaiswal, Vice President, FHRAI, this is a wonderful initiative by the FHRAI and the Modi government as due to arm-twisting organization techniques of the on line aggregators, hotel and restaurant members are getting hassled. He pointed out, specific OTAs charge hefty commissions as nicely as other hidden charges. Thus, partnering with an entity that is run by the government, will remove these troubles. He mentioned that the contracts are transparent, bilateral and also, hotels do not have to be concerned about illegal or hidden charges. Besides, this partnership is anticipated to bring new hope to distressed hoteliers whose firms have been adversely impacted through the COVID-19 lockdown, he added.