Years back, prominent leader of India rated ?Jabalpur? as City of ?Gundas?. The leader was visionary, not much has changed. The city remains the same. God is very liberal in giving many tourist spots and no doubt that Jabalpur is one of the major city in Madhya Pradesh. The movement of tourists, business and other interested group flows in this city.
My four days experience from 26-29 November 2004 during a marriage party in city as outsider is here to help others who visit Jabalpur or planning to have business meet. The highest degree of mismanagement (What is this????), rude behaviors of staff is seen in a hotel called ?UTSAV? (Means festival) situated in the heart of city called Russel Chauwk.
Will any one believe that no phone available in the hotel to call in city? Yes? phone is available but locked? When entire world is getting service oriented, this hotel management is not even aware of meaning of client satisfaction. No waiters and no dress code. You will keep on guessing who is manager and who is waiters.
Shocked by this, I tried to contact district administration to check with its license and certification as hotel, I was told that the owner of this hotel is very big person and nothing much could be done. Unfortunately, this hotel was booked to host marriage party on turnkey basis, which included lodging and boarding. I was one of the members of this party with responsibility to manage the show. An advance of Rs 3, 000/- was given to hotel for catering.
This hotel could not provide anything starting with morning tea. The managers were helpless. No water in Hotel. Very poor lighting, etc. We were in complete trap of this hotel. There was no time to change the hotel. But what about the food? When no tea, breakfast was served till 10.00 am we were forced to change the catering service provided by the hotel. Our advance of Rs. 3, 000/- was never refunded. And, who dares to talk to owners of hotel in the city of Gundas. Better to forget it. I STRONGLY RECOMMEND NOT TO DEAL WITH THIS HOTEL CALLED ?UTSAV? IN RUSSEL CHAUK in JABALPUR.
Here, I saw a ray of light in the form of nearby hotel called ?CHHAPAN BHOG?. A gentleman, Mr. N.D. Pande owner of hotel ?CHHAPAN BHOG? came forward to help in this time of crisis and not only managed the show of catering but also provided rooms for guests who run away from hotel ?UTSAV? in a reasonable cost. Off course, there was no time and energy left to bargain rates but his hospitability and courage to accept challenge to get quality meals in very limited time was remarkable. He is one of rare person, I have come across in city with all quality of businessperson required to grow especially in a city like Jabalpur.
I was told that these incidence of mismanagement, misbehaviors not new. They are routine matter in Jabalpur.
My narration of this incidence is not targeted to any one but to make outsider people aware that before booking any hotel, please follow following measures ?
Please take feedback from some local person about the hotel.
Personally, check the sanitation, communication, and water facility and get something in writing in advance. (I had not done that).
Take confirmed receipt. In my case, hotel person wrote on a plain paper and it has no legal value.
Have some penalty clause on services as we do in other cases.
Before booking any hotel, take some local person (who have influence in the city) in confidence.
This city has lots of potential but the discipline and quality of services have to be improved. Small but efficient hotels like ?CHHAPPAN BHOG? must be encouraged and badly managed hotel by influenced persons like ?UTSAV? must be discouraged.