The hotels in the Kedarnath & Tungnath valley, thrive on the business during the peak yatra season and provide sizeable employment during the yatra season. Additionally Tungnath region sees a surge in tourist during winter months when Chopta is covered with the white blanket of snow and in summer when several adventure seekers like to trek to the remote and exotic mountains in the Gharwal region of the Himalayas. 

However the unfortunate part is that the employment drops considerably post the peak yatra season simply because the hotels do not see rationale in retaining staff when there are no or less visitors & guests. But one needs to think if they are making enough effort to attract a different segment of tourist other than those travelling during peak yatra season. I shall soon in one of my next blogs focus on the potential opportunities hoteliers in these remote towns & villages should and can explore for engaging tourists and keeping tourism blossom all year long. However in this blog I would like to stay focused on what are the benefits and implications of Employment by hotels through the year in and around the Kedarnath & Tungnath temples. 

Sustainable Livelihood: By offering year-round service, hotels can attract tourists for reasons other than just the Kedarnath Temple and Tungnath temples and thus create a stable source of income for themselves, the local workforce and reduce their own dependence on seasonal tourism and ensuring sustainable livelihoods for the employees.

Community Development: A consistent workforce employed throughout the year can lead to the development of a more stable and thriving local community. The economic benefits generated by hotels can have a cascading effect on other businesses and services in the region, leading to overall community growth.

Skill Development: Providing long-term employment enables staff members to enhance their skills and expertise. Experienced and well-trained employees can improve the quality of services offered by hotels, leading to higher guest satisfaction and more repeat visitors.

Retaining Local Talent: Seasonal unemployment can lead to migration and brain drain as skilled workers seek employment opportunities elsewhere during the off-season. Hotels offering year-round jobs can encourage local talent to stay in the area, fostering a sense of ownership and pride in their homeland.

Consistent Service Quality: Maintaining a skilled and consistent workforce year-round ensures that hotels can maintain the same level of service excellence throughout the year. This reliability can lead to positive word-of-mouth recommendations and attract more visitors to the region.

Enhanced Tourism Potential: By offering services even during the off-season, hotels near Kedarnath can attract visitors who prefer quieter times and avoid peak tourist periods. This diversification of tourist inflow can contribute to a more balanced and sustainable tourism industry.

Disaster Management and Relief: Kedarnath and its surrounding regions are susceptible to natural disasters like heavy snowfall, landslides, or flash floods. A hotel staffed year-round can play a vital role in providing shelter, aid, and support during emergencies and unforeseen circumstances.

Cultural Preservation: With year-round employment, locals can better preserve their unique cultural heritage and traditions. Hotels can encourage the inclusion of local customs and practices in their services, promoting a more authentic and immersive experience for guests.

Overall, providing 12 months of employment by hotels near Kedarnath is not only beneficial for the hotels themselves but also for the local community, the tourism industry, and the region’s sustainable development. It fosters a more responsible and inclusive approach to tourism while ensuring a positive impact on the local ecosystem.

As owners of Mystic Kailasha, right from the early days of conceptualising Mystic Kailasha I have believed that it is equally important for us as owners and our employees all to grow together in the journey by providing high quality hospitality services to tourists through the year in the valley. 

Our areas of focus in terms of work environment have been on 

– Reverse migration of Staff: Mystic Kailasha has managed to draw back to the hills Pahadi talent who we believe will be the accelerators to training local talent. 

– Employment of Locals: A reasonable % of our team is local and from nearby districts 

– Taking pride in our culture: We take pride in our Heritage & Culture and its is reflected in our interiors and also the warmth with which our staff take care of the guests. 

– Year long employment terms: As a policy we do not practice Temporary Staffing. The objective being we would want our staff to be stress free and work hard during peak season with the assurance that they know that their families are secure even during low periods of business. 

Within a short span this has already resulted in tangible & intangible benefits for the guests of Mystic Kailasha.

– Top Notch Hospitality Services – Our staff is not only trained extensively in their relevant area of work be it Kitchen, Housekeeping or Service but more importantly they are fully aware of the property and its offerings. This automatically gives the customer confidence and the necessary comfort irrespective whether he is staying with us or only visiting our Restaurant. 

– Experience Local Sightseeing – We have researched and worked on a list of must visit places which are popular with the locals but unfortunately lesser popular with tourists. Our team provides assistance to our guests on planning their itinerary to perfection during their stay with us. 

– Local Cultural Experience –Our guests can experience local delicacies curated by our Pahadi Chefs and also our local staff provide that opportunity to experience some local culture.