More pampering, less bucks

Budget hotels in India have more employees and give better service than budget hotels in any other country world-wide. The low cost of employing personnel in India has led to low priced hotels with the ability to pamper their guests in a way unseen in the West.

Executive director of Sarovar Hotels, Ajay Bakaya explained: “In India, the payroll cost is 11-14 percent of the revenue as compared to over 30 percent in US and Europe and around 20 percent-25 percent in other South East Asian countries.”

Despite their name, many so-called no-frills hotels in India do have the same perks as hotels elsewhere, namely a restauarant and room service. India’s ability to provide these facilities, even in budget accommodation, is largely due to the low cost of personnel.

Rahul Maini, COO of Clarks Inn, a chain of budget hotels, explained: “In India customers like being pampered. So travellers have high expectations even from a no-frill hotel.”

While most hotels across the world have an employee to room ration or around 0.5, in India this number jumps to 1.5 for three star hotels, and can be as high as 1.8 for budget hotels, prompting some to say that the hotels are overstaffed by as much as 20 to 25 per cent.

Whatever the case, it still means good service for the customers.