Hotels in Gelephu are finally experiencing a surge in business, as the Gelephu Mindfulness City (GMC) project attracts an increasing number of international visitors. After years of few guests or bookings, local hoteliers are upgrading facilities and services to meet the growing demand.
For years, many hotels in Gelephu struggled with empty rooms and low bookings. Deyngyam Boutique Hotel, one of the largest and newest in town, was no exception.
“In the beginning, we didn’t receive as many guests as we had hoped. But in recent months, especially since June, we have been seeing a steady and encouraging increase in visitors,” said Rinzin, Owner, Deyngyam Boutique, Gelephu.
Other hotels report similar experiences. Many are renovating, improving facilities, and recruiting more staff to cater to the influx.
“Compared to the past, business is much better now. Earlier, most of our customers were visitors, but these days we’re also seeing more walk-in customers coming in for food,” said Tashi Dema, Owner, Panbang Hotel, Gelephu.
Despite the growth, hoteliers face a challenge: a shortage of skilled staff, especially chefs, and food and beverage professionals.
“Attracting highly skilled chefs and staff is difficult because they expect benefits that we simply cannot meet. On top of that, many locals are not interested in working in the hospitality sector, and some even look down on hotel jobs,” said Rinzin, Owner, Deyngyam Boutique, Gelephu.
Recognising the rise in guests, the Hotel Association of Gelephu, which manages GMC-related bookings, ensures fair allocation among hotels based on capacity and service quality.
“Since the very beginning of the GMC project, both hotel and building owners have been working to raise standards by upgrading lodging and dining facilities to meet the expectations of international guests,” said Thinley Jamtsho, Chairman, Hotel Association of Gelephu.
However, the association revealed that out of more than 60 hotels in Gelephu, only around 11 to 12 currently meet international standards.
The association’s chairman added that while GMC-supported training programs have provided basic skills, the growing number of guests means more specialised training will be needed.
Passang Dorji, Gelephu
