BENGALURU: The failed talks between Iran and the US have sparked fears of a continued war, causing concern among hotel owners and industry stakeholders in Bengaluru. The National Restaurant Association of India and the Bruhat Bengaluru Hotel Association have called an informal meeting with representativess of oil marketing companies to discuss the issue of LPG cylinder availability and supply situation.
The collapse of the Iran-US peace talks has raised global concerns, potentially escalating tensions and increasing the risk of war. The state’s hotel and tourism industry was already struggling to recover from the impact of the previous situation, with estimated losses of Rs 1,000 crore.
Despite assurances from the central and state governments, hotels in Bengaluru are receiving only 50 per cent of their required cylinder supplies. Medium and small-sized hotels are struggling to get cylinders, forcing them to explore alternative options like firewood, induction stoves and biogas.
In light of the failed talks, the hotel associations have convened an informal meeting with various gas companies to assess the situation and request increased cylinder supplies. The meeting aims to discuss the availability of cylinders and explore ways to ensure a steady supply to hotels.
According to P C Rao, honorary president of the Bengaluru Hotels Association, they will urge oil companies to provide more cylinders to hotels. If the war situation continues, there is a possibility of cylinder shortages resurfacing, which could further exacerbate the challenges faced by the hotel industry.
“The failure of the US-Iran talks is very disappointing as we were expecting peace to prevail and the clouds of war to be swept away. The tourism and hotel industries have been badly hit and have not been able to recover. In such circumstances, the possibility of resumption of the war is surprising and, at the same time, disappointing”, Rao told Public TV.
“The hotel industry has suffered losses of about Rs 1,000 crore ever since the war broke out. Some hotels are still not getting proper supply of LPG cylinders, but some are responding positively. Some distributors are not responding positively. Though major hotels in big cities are not facing much problems, medium and small hotels are still affected. Currently, hotels are getting about 50 per cent of their LPG requirements. Private players charge more for LPG, which is a burden. We are holding an informal meeting with representatives of oil companies to discuss ensuring normal supplies. In the coming days, we will also meet the Food and Civil Supplies commissioner. We will also discuss about alternative fuels”, Rao added.
