Liability to asset : Hotel Imphal scripts tale of recovery
Source: The Sangai Express

Imphal, June 21 2009: It sounds like a rejected seed ultimately bearing fruits.

Hotel Imphal, the lone State run hospital which remained a liability rather than an asset for the last many years has significantly transformed itself.

On more than one occasion, the State Government decided to privatise the hotel or close it down.

But the hotel has now undergone a positive change and is earning revenue for Tourism Department.

Hotel Imphal is now one of the most popular places of accommodation for both foreign and domestic officials, VIPs and tourists.

With its popularity rising among the tourists, the hotel has gained greater importance and relevance.

A rejuvenated Hotel Imphal looks spic and span

While expressing certain reservation on the hospitality service of the hotel, some Ministers opined that Hotel Imphal has all the potential to become a prime hotel considering its location, area and proximity to security zones.

The hotel has 11 VIP/executive rooms and 20 deluxe rooms.

On being asked randomly what was the urgent priority to improve the condition of the hotel, majority of the hotel staff said that improving service should be the first priority.

Some other staff claimed that visitors expressed satisfaction at the service provided at the hotel.

The hotel divides its 50 staff into three shifts to cater to the needs of the visitors during different periods of the day.

The hotel staff agreed that well-trained management staff are needed to raise the hospitality level of the hotel.

They said that shortage in staff sometimes caused inconveniences to the visitors.

According to their works, the 50 staff are divided into such categories as house-keeping, cook, administration, technician, room service etc.

Since the hotel was inaugurated in 1978, there has been no full renovation or repairing till date except for minor and partial repairings from time to time when Central Government officials visited the State.

There is no tap water facility in the State.

Whatever quantity of water required to run the hotel is bought from outside.

Due to the irregular power supply, a generator has been installed at the hotel.

With the drainage system in bad shape, ground floor rooms have been abandoned a long time back as water used to seep in even during times of a light drizzle.

Room fee and prices of food provided in the hotel are considerably as the same were fixed in 1999 .

The average occupancy rate of the hotel is 55 percent, said one staff.

There was no fund or grant from the Government to run the hotel.

Though the condition of the hotel is not enviable at all, somehow it has changed for the better and it is earning revenue for Tourism Department.

Tourism Director H Dilip said that efforts were on to develop the hotel.

An auditorium is being constructed as an attachment to the hotel.

Once it is completed, the Department has plans to stage classical dance and music of the State for tourists in the auditorium.

Conceding that there were some shortages in the number of staff and infrastructure, Dilip said that Wi-Fi and internet facilities have been made available in all the rooms of the hotel.

The Dept is also planning to open an SBI ATM counter at the hotel for convenience of the visitors, added the Tourism Director.