Mountview profits increased nearly five times last fiscal

Ramkrishan Upadhyay

Tribune News Service

Chandigarh, July 30

While the Union Government has asked the UT Administration to start the process for leasing out the CITCO hotels, the Mountview witnessed a record profit during the last financial year, 2018-19. The other two flagship hotels of CITCO — Shivalikview and Parkview — also improved their performance, raising questions over the UT move to lease them out. Sources said the Mountview, a five-star hotel, recorded a net profit of Rs 3.03 crore in 2018-19 in comparison with Rs 64.60 lakh it netted in the year 2017-18.

In 2016-17, the hotel had recorded a profit of only Rs 21,000. The room occupancy of the hotel has crossed over 73 per cent.

The Parkview recorded a profit of Rs 2.31 crore in 2018-19. The Shivalikview managed to reduce its losses during the last financial year.

Premlal, president of CITCO Progressive Workers’ Union, said the profit belied the false impression that only employees working in the private sector could perform better.

Another employee said CITCO experimented by appointing the General Manager of Mountview from private sector at a huge salary. But the hotel witnessed a profit of Rs 21,000 during 2016- 17. Later, a CITCO official was appointed the GM and the profit rose over four-fold. Notably, CITCO hotels are facing tough competitions from rivals like Taj Hotel and JW Marriot.

Anurag Walia, General Manager, Mountview, said it became possible because of the guidance of superiors and dedication and hard work of the hotel staff.

Kashmir Chand, chairman of the workers’ union, said in view of the profits, the government should reject the proposal to lease out the profit-making hotels.