The fast-emerging food and beverage business in five-star hotels accross the country is being viewed as a boon in times of dropping occupancy levels. According to industry estimates, F&B and banqueting make up more than half the revenues of several five-star hotels in India compared with just about a fifth globally.

"Indian executives are still being paid top dollar, despite the uncertainty globally. The local economy is doing very well and today F&B is the biggest opportunity for hotels," says Kapil Chopra, senior vice-president, Oberoi Hotels & Resorts.

The F&B industry sees increasing opportunity in Indians' growing appetite for gourmet food, innate urge to experiment with flavours and to splurge on the high life as per a report in ET by Ravi Teja Sharma. The newly-opened Oberoi Gurgaon gets 54% of its revenues from F&B and banqueting, a segment that is growing at a healthy rate of 15%.

"We have certain outlets at our Gurgaon property that are priced attractively to cater to younger customers," says Chopra. Even in the relatively conservative Chennai, hotels are faring pretty well in this regard, with the Hilton hotel making 45% from F&B.

"Suddenly, Sunday brunches are becoming popular with the locals. It's packed on Sundays," says Swati Dhir, director of business development at the hotel, which sees a number of Asian expats working in the auto industry around Chennai queuing up at its popular sashimi-sushi counter.

The Hilton hotel in Delhi's predominantly residential area of Janakpuri earns a whopping 57% of its revenues from F&B and banqueting.

"Unlike in our central Delhi hotels, we price our F&B offerings very competitively so that the aspiring middle-class customer can dare to come in and at least try once," says Rubal Chaudhry, general manager, Hilton Janakpuri. Five-star hotels are also seeing increasing demand for parties and weddings.

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