Bangladesh safe for foreign guests now

Dhaka : Following the nationwide mass uprising and student protests against the former government that began in mid-July, foreign guest occupancy across all the star hotels in Dhaka has taken a hit. Amid the unrest, many foreign guests left the country over safety and security concerns. However, the situation is completely normal now, and Bangladesh is entirely safe and secured for foreign guests to return.

Shahidus Sadeque, Acting General Manager, Holiday Inn Dhaka City Centre, said this while talking to The Bangladesh Monitor at his office in the capital recently.

The Acting General Manager of the hotel expects the country's hospitality industry-that witnessed a slump in footfall amid the temporary political unrest earlier-will recover by October with the return of foreign travellers.

Already, the hotel is witnessing queries and bookings for October from long-staying guests, who work in various projects in Bangladesh, informed Sadeque, adding, their return will further encourage other foreigners to start visiting again.

Meanwhile, Holiday Inn Dhaka is relying on domestic guests, claimed Sadeque. On a positive note, the hotel welcomes a good number of domestic guests during weekends specially.

According to the Acting General Manager, 20-25 families check-in during the weekends-who come to enjoy attractive staycations at the hotel.

To this effect, Holiday Inn Dhaka is offering exciting staycation packages, shared Sadeque. For instance, the hotel's September mega sale offers room accommodation for two at BDT 6999 per night. Guests can enjoy the package with buffet breakfast for two as well at BDT 8999 per night.

Furthermore, there is another attractive staycation package at BDT 12,000 per room per night for two which offers BDT 3000 food or spa voucher along with buffet breakfast.

Even the food and beverage outlets of the hotel are observing commendable local footfall, claimed Sadeque.

On Thursday night, their signature dining outlet witnesses at least 50 per cent occupancy and, on Friday night, 70 per cent occupancy.

Moreover, the hotel has launched a new buffet brunch on Fridays and Saturdays, which is getting tremendous response, according to the Acting General Manager.

With Buy One Get One offer, the brunch costs BDT 4000 and with Buy One Get Two BDT 5000.

Speaking of banquet business, most of the events have been postponed amid the government transition activities as well as the recent flood situation, shared the Sadeque, adding it will take one or two months to recover.

However, the hotel has been facing another grave crisis this year, claimed Sadeque. Addres-sing the issue, the Acting General Manager explained, they are facing difficulties to repatriate the payments that the hotel owes to foreign hotel booking platforms like Booking.com and Agoda. 

Almost 1/4th of the hotel's business comes from such international hotel booking platforms. However, due to being unable to repatriate their dues, the platforms bring down Holiday Inn Dhaka's page from their platform, sighed Sadeque

This has caused the hotel lose about BDT 1 crore in revenues this year, said Sadeque. Sadeque attributed the issue to the current US Dollar crisis Bangladesh is facing.

Sudden absences of the hotel on the platforms does not leave a good impression to guests either, explained Sadeque.

The hotel faces a similar issue with repatriating advertisement payments to google/worldwide web as well, according to the Acting General Manager. Due to which, they are currently unable to run such promotions to attract foreign guests.

Sadeque urged the government to resolve these issues at the earliest.