Hotels resort to food to attract voters to the booth

Bhubaneswar: Many hotels in Bhubaneswar and Puri, where voting is scheduled to take place on May 25, have come up with special discounts for those who decide to exercise their franchise on that day. They just have to show their inked finger.

The third phase of elections in the state will be held on Saturday, which will be followed by a long weekend on Sunday. Amid growing concerns over decline in voting percentage due to the weekend holiday, hoteliers in the capital city have decided to offer relaxation to those casting their votes.

Hotel Crown’s Zodiac Cafe in the city is running a special offer called ‘From Ballot to Buffet’ for two days on May 25 and 26. Voters can show their inked fingers to get discounts on mouth-watering lunches and dinners. Cafe on both Saturday and Sunday. Similarly, Mayfair Bhubaneswar is celebrating the ‘Festival of Democracy’ by offering 20 per cent discount at three of its restaurants – Lemon Grass, Mamma Mia and Nakli Dhaba – for five days starting May 25.

Chili’s Restaurant at Esplanade Mall has promised all voters a 15 per cent discount on all items on their menu on polling day. The mall is running a ‘Vote for Happiness’ campaign to create awareness about voting.
In Puri, to create awareness about the importance of exercising franchise among first-time voters, the local branch of the Hotel and Restaurant Association of Odisha (HRAO) offered 20 per cent discount on food bills to first-time voting youth. Have decided. time, at all hotels under the association throughout Pilgrim City. There are around 200 hotels under the association, including medium and star properties.
HRAO-Puri vice-president Raj Kishore Patra said the decision was taken after a meeting with the district election officer on increasing voting awareness among first-time voters. Puri has 24,243 voters in the 18+ age group.