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IRCTC & FHRAI join hands to offer quality accommodation to tourists
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Saturday, 20 March, 2021, 08 : 00 AM [IST]
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Our Bureau, New Delhi
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The Federation of Hotel and Restaurant Associations of India (FHRAI) and the Indian Railway Catering and Tourism Corporation (IRCTC) have come together to offer hotel accommodations to tourists. The collaboration will allow hotel members of the FHRAI and its regional associations to provide their inventory for sale as online Accommodation Partners through the IRCTC tourism website and its associate portal.
As part of the special partnering offer, a discount of 2 per cent on the commission payable to IRCTC is offered to the hotel or chain of hotels in the three-star category or with equivalent facilities. The hotels are required to be affiliated to FHRAI and its regional associations. Founded in 1955, the FHRAI is India's apex and the world’s 3rd largest Hospitality Association.
IRCTC is an Indian public sector undertaking that provides ticketing, catering, and tourism services to the Indian Railways.
Gurbaxish Singh Kohli, vice president, FHRAI, said, “India’s apex Hospitality Association and IRCTC, Government of India enterprise are coming together to offer tourists quality hotel accommodations in the country. This will offer IRCTC’s users the option to choose their preferred stay from over 55000 hotels across India. The empanelled hotels or hotel chains are in the three-star or above category with all basic amenities and, international standards of hygiene and safety. This will give users of the IRCTC the convenience of booking quality rooms anywhere in India while booking their travel through the IRCTC website. This is a win-win situation for everyone and we are glad to be partners with the IRCTC in this venture.”
The partnership entails empanelment of accommodation partners for a period of three years and is extendable every three years without any charges on mutually agreed terms. Besides this, it also provides a one-time waiver of integration charges as applicable for all new applications received up to July 31, 2021. Members need not to go through any separate procedure to get classified since hotels with equivalent facilities can obtain a certification by FHRAI. Star equivalent facilities of such hotels will be reflected against the hotel name on the hotel page of the IRCTC website.
Surendra Kumar Jaiswal, vice president, FHRAI, said, “This also is a great initiative by the FHRAI and Government as hotel and restaurant members are being hassled by arm-twisting business tactics of the online aggregators. Certain OTAs charge hefty commissions and other hidden charges. Partnering with Government run entity will eliminate these issues. The contracts are transparent, bilateral and hotels need not worry about illegal or hidden charges. This partnership will also bring new hope to distressed hoteliers whose businesses have been adversely impacted during lockdown. The FHRAI requests its members to take this opportunity and empanel their establishments on IRCTC at the earliest.”
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