#ColdplayinAhmedabad: Even Vadodara hotels hike tariffs to cash in on frenzy

With almost all good hotels in Ahmedabad full this weekend, as Coldplay is all set to perform in the city today and tomorrow, some hotels in Vadodara have also hiked their tariffs to cash in on the frenzy. After all, staying in Vadodara and travelling to Ahmedabad (a distance of 110km) for the concerts is a more cost-effective option for many.

Talking to us in November, Santosh Kumar, Country Manager for India, Sri Lanka, Maldives and Indonesia at Booking.com, had shared, “The Coldplay concerts in Ahmedabad have triggered a surge in travel interest. While our data reveals a staggering 12,000% increase in search traffic for Ahmedabad during those dates (January 24-26), even nearby cities like Gandhinagar and Vadodara are witnessing a 1000% and 900% increase in searches during this period.”
So, it’s hardly surprising to see this surge in demand for hotel rooms in Vadodara. Hoteliers say that although hotels in Vadodara have also hiked tariffs, it’s still a better option than staying in Ahmedabad, where hotel tariffs have skyrocketed. A spokesperson from one of Vadodara’s top hotels tells us, “These two Coldplay concerts in Ahmedabad have led to a spillover effect when it comes to hotel tariffs in Vadodara. However, this is not the primary reason for the high tariffs. There are a lot of weddings that are scheduled to take place on those days and so, most of our rooms were sold out well in advance. However, there are Coldplay fans who have paid high amounts to book rooms in the city at the last moment. As compared to staying in Ahmedabad, it’s still a comparatively cheaper option for them. They can easily travel to Ahmedabad, as both these cities (Vadodara and Ahmedabad) are well connected.”
A senior spokesperson from a hotel located on Gotri-Sevasi road, Vadodara, tells us, “There are several weddings on these dates (January 25 and 26) and that has also contributed to the high tariffs. We have received several enquiries in the last one week, but all our rooms are sold out. Some hotels in Vadodara have tariffs of more than ₹30,000 per night on those days, which is more than six times what they charge on regular days.”
A senior spokesperson from Western Railway adds, “Premium trains like Shatabdi Express and Vande Bharat Express (Mumbai to Vadodara and Ahmedabad) are fully booked on Saturday and Sunday. We are expecting tatkal tickets for January 26 (Sunday, for which tatkal bookings will open today) to be sold out fast too. Even our winter special trains on this route are fully booked on both the days.”