By Shantanu Jain-THE MID-MARKET Sarovar Hotels & Resorts has become the first chain in the country to launch a website entirely in Hindi to connect better with its Hindi-speaking clientele, who contribute 35 per cent of its business.
Though design-wise, the website, which was launched by Tourism Secretary Lalit Panwar, is a mirror image of the one in English, it is a recognition of the rising significance of the domestic travel market, both in the corporate and leisure segments. It will also help the chain to communicate better with the burgeoning Tier II and III markets
Explaining the rationale of the move, Ajay K Bakaya, Executive Director, Sarovar Hotels, said in an email interaction: "More than 180 million people in India regard Hindi as their mother tongue and another 300 million use Hindi as a second language. This initiative appreciates our cultural values, and instills a lot of pride in all tourism stakeholders
The website-
www.sarovarhotels.com/hi-was built "from scratch" and consumed more than 1,200 man hours in development, Bakaya added. It uses US-based Sabre Hospitality’s Synxis Central Reservations System for bookings.
Bakaya said he expected the website to yield results in higher booking numbers in the long term and increase the online market presence of the company, which has more than 70 hotels across India and in some overseas locations too.
When asked about his expectations from the website, he replied, ’The company now expects to be more closely connected with guests. We fervently believe that with this initiative, we'll be able to create an impact in the hearts of our Hindi-speaking guests."
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Shantanu Jain is a Junior Correspondent with BW Hotelier.
By Shantanu Jain
