Coronavirus bleeds Bangladesh’s hospitality industry
An international event organiser has already postponed two international events, where many Chinese nationals were supposed to be exhibitors and visitors
The coronavirus catastrophe has badly impacted Bangladesh's upscale hospitality industry, said industry players yesterday.
Pan Pacific Sonargaon Dhaka, a 5-star hotel, faced cancellation of 300 bed nights booked for February.
If the average room rent is $150 per night, the hotel lost over $45,000 or Tk38 lakh. The losses will go up if food and other services are taken into account.
International Convention City Bashundhara (ICCB) has been hit hard as half a dozen international events scheduled to be held in February have been postponed.
"This is the season for events. We have been severely affected," Jasim Uddin, chief executive officer of ICCB, told The Business Standard.
ICCB has four big halls and provides all catering services to the organisers and participants not only at its halls, but outside as well. It charges Tk4 lakh for each hall a day.
"Our primary estimate shows that we are going to lose Tk18-20 crore because of postponement of events," said Jasim Uddin.
CEMS-Global, an international event organiser, has already postponed two major international events where many Chinese nationals were supposed to be exhibitors and visitors.
The events are the 17th Dhaka International Yarn and Fabric Show 2020 and the 4th Dhaka International Denim Show 2020 scheduled to be held during February 26-29, 2020, at the ICCB.
Le Méridien Dhaka, The Westin, InterContinental, Radisson Blu Dhaka, and a few other hotels in Gulshan, Banani, and Uttara have been facing the music – coronavirus.
"Some events scheduled to be held in our hotel have already been cancelled. So have many room bookings," said an official of Le Meridien, wishing not to be named. This hotel is very close to Dhaka's only international airport.
The Westin, which is at the heart of Gulshan, is also feeling the pinch, but it is not significant, said a spokesman of the hotel.
The coronavirus outbreak surfaced in December last year. The World Health Organisation declared it an international health emergency on January 30.
Many countries have imposed travel restrictions because of the spread of the virus in over 25 countries.
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