Mysuru: The city hoteliers are cut up with the Police Department as the Department officials book the rooms during Dasara but fail to pay the rents. When this is the situation, how can we keep the rooms ready when the District Administration demands it?

This was the grievance expressed by the hotel owners, organisation chiefs, managers and representatives at the Dasara-2017 meeting held at the Deputy Commissioner’s (DC) Office here yesterday, when the issue of keeping the rooms reserved for various government and Police officials were discussed.

Speaking earlier, Additional Deputy Commissioner (ADC) T. Yogesh said that last year the hoteliers had co-operated well and this year too, the District Administration was expecting the same co-operation. Last year 5 per cent of the rooms were kept reserved. However, this year during Dasara Sports, as there are more than eight events the number of sportspersons participating will increase. Hence, more than 5 per cent of rooms need to be kept reserved, he said.

Reacting to this suggestion, the hoteliers said that every year they reserve two rooms for the Police Department.  This year, the jurisdictional Police have already written to them to keep it reserved.  “They do not pay the rent. Even if we ask, they turn a deaf ear. When this is the situation, the District Administration asking us to keep a few rooms reserved will hit our business badly,” they said expressing their displeasure.

Yogesh, who responded to this, said that the District Administration did not have information about the Police Department writing letters to keep the room reserved. “I will bring it to the notice of the DC,” he said.

50 percent discount: Yogesh told the hoteliers that for the rooms booked by the District administration, the DC was expecting a 50 % discount.

Replying to this demand, Hotel Owners Association President C. Narayanagowda said that last year they had given 30 per cent discount and to expect  50 per cent would be a very difficult proposition for the hoteliers. However, we will discuss the issue with the members of the Association and communicate the decision, he added. The representatives of many hotels were present at the meeting.