Hotels can be safe sanctuaries for migratory MLAs with an advantage of easy access to transport hubs

With rising operational costs due to refurbishments for Covid-19, plummeting occupancy rates in 2020 and sharp revenue contractions, the hospitality sector has to resort to drastic contingency measures.

Having made room for stranded travellers and frontline healthcare workers and even tried to create a work-from-hotel constituency, hotels cannot but realise that the only other segment in India willing to brave contagion fears to seek fairly lengthy retreats is the political class.

Politicians are not ideal guests at the best of times, but these are the worst of times and hoteliers can’t be choosers. And with bands of itinerant legislators regularly seeking safe sanctuaries away from political predators and poachers, hotels simply cannot afford to ignore this emerging category.


Relatively secluded hotels that are nevertheless within easy reach of transport hubs have a natural advantage, judging by the fact that one such hotel in Haryana has reportedly been the favoured hotel-away-from-home for migratory MLAs from several states in recent times.

Besides usual five-star frills such as spas and turndown services, confabulation gyms (where they can work out their political futures) and secure gates (to prevent unwanted access and egress) are bound to be the crucial facilities all hotels that want a share of this business must provide.