Visas done, hotel bookings don't exist... MotoGP Bharat in Greater Noida faces new hurdle

For the first time ever, India is set to host a MotoGP Grand Prix from September 22-24, 2023, at the Buddh International Circuit in Greater Noida, Uttar Pradesh.

The event, officially named the MotoGP Bharat Grand Prix, has already amassed a significant global fan following who have traveled to India to witness the action. However, it appears that they are encountering difficulties with their accommodations.

What happened

• As mentioned earlier, Noida has witnessed a surge in visitors, and many have taken to social media platforms, including X (formerly Twitter), to vent their frustrations about hotel bookings.
• One recent complaint came from Simon Patterson, a freelance MotoGP journalist from Ukraine, who voiced his dissatisfaction with Fabhotels, India. According to his post, upon his arrival at a hotel near the circuit (which, according to Google Maps, appears to be FabHotel Royal Stay I-Hotel in Knowledge Park 3), the hotel claimed to have no record of the booking he had made two months prior and wished him luck in finding alternative accommodations.

Simon also pointed out that this was a recurring issue affecting "many other freelance journalists" and attributed it to 'visa issues.'

He went on to label Fab Hotels as "unscrupulous and fraudulent," a sentiment echoed by numerous X users.

Other users also reported similar problems when booking hotel rooms.

Another Twitter user, @RacingArmchair, complained that he had booked a room with a trackside view but was not provided with one.

 However, the user did not provide much information about the hotel or his specific location.

When dailyO investigated the complaints against FabHotels, it found quite a few similar grievances, as illustrated by the following example:

The surge in hotel prices

• The MotoGP, the Trade Show, and the G-20 Summit have boosted business for hotels and restaurants in Delhi and the Delhi-NCR region.
• However, this has also led to a significant spike in hotel rates. For instance, during the MotoGP event, India Today reported that the average cost for a two-night stay had risen to Rs 50,000, compared to the previous range of Rs 7,000-9,000.
• While accommodation has been secured for the organizing committee members, those who have not yet booked a hotel room could face steep expenses when seeking lodging in these upscale hotels.

Previous visa issues 

In the past, Visa delays had hindered many riders and team personnel from attending the inaugural MotoGP race in India. This issue was subsequently resolved by the government, which attributed it to a 'technical glitch.'

(DailyO has reached out to Fab Hotels, and the story will be updated once they give us a response)

READ MORE: Visa delays nearly pushed MotoGP Bharat off track, but MEA saves the day