Pune: Maharashtra’s latest Covid restriction order has left banquets and wedding clients high and dry, as many have sent out hundreds of invitations to guests but now have to request them not to attend the big day, sources in Poona Hoteliers’ Association (PHA) said.
The order on new Covid restrictions in the state had stated that in the case of marriages, where movement of attendees is generally staggered, the total number of attendees at any moment of time should not exceed 100 for enclosed spaces (like banquets/ marriage halls among others) and 250 for open-to-sky spaces, or 25% of the capacity of such spaces, whichever is lesser.
Amit Sharma, the vice-president of PHA and general manager of Amanora The Fern, Pune, said, “Hotels have been impacted adversely after the latest order. Earlier also, the guest list for weddings was curtailed at nearly 200 in an enclosed hall with a capacity of 400 people. Further reduction in guests for an event will impact revenues.”
Sharma said, “We have weddings at the hotel till month end and many have already sent out invitations to their guests. To ask the remaining guests not to attend the event is a big mental harassment for clients.”
Vikram Shetty, the owner of Sadanand Resort and Sadanand Regency, said, “We have two weddings in the next couple of days and around seven in February. The restricted guest limit for weddings will cause an increase of Rs 100-200 per person cost depending on the banquet. This would be done to cover up costs of holding the event in the banquet, which can accommodate more guests than 100 in number.”
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