Possible ICC World Cup Schedule Shift Sparks Concern in Hotel Industry
The Indian hospitality industry is bracing itself for potential disruptions as the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) contemplates advancing the ICC World Cup match date between India and Pakistan to October 14, in light of Navratri celebrations. This alteration, initially scheduled for October 15 in Ahmedabad, may prompt numerous cancellations or date change requests from cricket fans who made reservations at high rates.
![]() |
| Impending ICC World Cup Schedule Changes Could Disrupt Hospitality Sector |
Hotels Prepare for the Consequences of Date Change
With the situation still fluid, several hotels are gearing up for an influx of customer distress calls. The speculation of the BCCI advancing the cricket match due to Navratri festivities on the original date of October 15 has been circulating.
Adjusting the Match Date: A Tricky Situation
Altering the match date might put Pakistan in a tough spot as they are set to face off against Sri Lanka in Hyderabad on October 12. Furthermore, two matches have already been fixed for October 14 in Chennai and Delhi respectively. The decision could cause a domino effect in rescheduling, potentially affecting the cricket World Cup's overall timeline.
Hotel Chain Considers Adaptive Measures
One Ahmedabad-based hotel chain, which operates three establishments, is yet to process any cancellation requests. However, in case of any, they intend to push forward reservations by a day. The final decision hinges on the BCCI's official announcement. According to the general manager, the chain is contemplating relocating non-World Cup-related bookings to further hotels.
Steep Price Hikes Coinciding with the World Cup
When the World Cup timetable was declared a month prior, most accommodations, including homestays, hiked their room rates by over 100%. Top-tier hotels experienced a surge in rates, from an average of ₹5,000-8,000 a night to a whopping ₹40,000 to ₹1 lakh for the anticipated match date.
Impact on Airfare and Overall Tourism
The potential date change could cause a further increase in airfare prices, traditionally high during Indian festive seasons. With Ahmedabad being the seventh busiest airport in India, transporting approximately 5.67 million people in FY22, this can significantly impact the tourism industry.
Hospitality Sector’s Stance on the Issue
Industry insiders believe that the potential date change may not significantly affect the hotel industry's financial status. They suggest that while occupancies are high in cities hosting World Cup matches, one date change may not critically impact a hotel’s financial standing.
Booking.com's country head for the Indian sub-continent and Indonesia, Santosh Kumar, further confirmed this view, stating that the final decision rests with the cricket board. He highlighted the influence of sports and entertainment events on the tourism sector and acknowledged the considerable demand around match dates in October.

Comments
Post a Comment