F1 fever hits NCR, preparations in full swing-CNN IBN

Noida: Barely two weeks to go for the Formula One Race to kickstart in India, the hotels around the race track are all fully booked.

From customised services for all the F1 teams to specially designed menus, the tourism industry hopes that this will certainly boost India's image globally.


The National Capital Region is gearing up for sporting action of a different kind exactly a year after the Commonwealth Games.


While the CWG did not really translate into full bookings at the hotels and guesthouses, the NCR has seen a slew of new hotels opening up in the last few months, all completely booked for the F1 weekend.


"We saw bookings year back. All our slots are completely filled," said Radisson GM Suraj Kumar Jha.


With the likes of Schumacher and Bernie Eccleston staying at their resort, the Jaypee Group is adding the finishing touches to its luxury suites and going all out to cash in on the F1 fever, with even the menu and gardens paying tribute to the racing action.


"We have ensured customised services, special pillows of 15 different types, different kinds of mattresses, vitamin supplements on menu, massages etc," said Grant Raymond Jefferies, VP, Jaypee Greens Golf Resort.


However, on the ground, travel agents admit that unlike cricket, the F1 is an event restricted to the upper crust and not the masses.


"Bookings come in directly from the organisers of F1. The organising committee does this as routine. They have die hard fans, people who go for every race. It gives those people an opportunity to see the country and place. They are fanatics. Those committed fans are pre booked across the globe," said Raji Rai of Travel Agents Association of India.


The CWG was meant to boost tourism for India, but with that event failing to meet expectations, all eyes are now on the F1 to rake in the figures and improve India's standing as a global tourist destination. 

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