Chennai:
Owing to the feared after-effects of cyclone Thane, hotels in the city are making last-minute changes to their party plans, cancelling dos by the lawns and pool-sides and accepting bookings on only for bashes held indoors at the hotel.
Radisson Blu GRT Hotel, despite announcing a lavish global cuisine buffet on New Year's Eve on the hotel's 5,000 square feet banquet lawns, will hold the event indoors fearing the onslaught of Thane.
"Even if there is no rain on Saturday evening, the grass lawns could be wet, making it hard to conduct an event there. We have opted out of the open-air buffet plan," confirmed Prasanna, festivity desk incharge at the hotel. Organisers at Hotel Green Park, Vadapalani are hoping for better weather as they have a special laser show planned on Saturday night.
The organisers had planned light shows for the last 15 minutes of 2011 on the hotel's lawns attached to the ballroom, where food would also be served. "We are hoping it doesn't rain. Even if it does, much of the bash would not be affected as the main event featuring an illusionist and dancers, is being held indoors," said Sudip Sengupta, general manager of the hotel.
In case the rain Gods don't oblige, guests would be able to watch the show from shelters near the lawn, while the food area would be sheltered, he added. Cashing in on the cyclone, interestingly, are a group of young event organisers, Chaos Funtertainment, who are putting together a rain-dance party on ECR on Saturday night.
"We had planned to create a drizzle using sprinklers and motors to encourage couples to dance in a filmy, rain-setting by the pool. There would be no need for sprinklers now, revellers would get actual rain," gushed Pradheesh, one of the organisers.