Beautifying - Federation of Hotel and Restaurant Associations of India

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July 2013 Cover Story 46 Designing a space Hospitality designs are no longer only about beautifying hotel structures. It is about going beyond and trying to become increasingly applicable economically for the properties. For this, innovative ideas are being asked for by developers to create distinctive styles, addressing brand standards and matching future needs Picture on the cover: Fine dining restaurant at Raffles Hotel, Makkah, Kingdom of Saudi Arabia Designed by Areen Hospitality 46 Cover Story contents THIS MONTH President’s Message Secretary’s Message FHRAI Desk News Updates Movements Products & Services Events 7 9 10 20 64 66 68 32 Dine Out: South Indies, Pune FEATURES 22 News you can use 38 Chef Talk: Aman Tandon 6July 2013 I www.fhrai.com I Analysis FDI: Shot in the arm The recent increase in FDI in hospitality will boost the hospitality sector to newer heights Marketing Goodness of Canadian Split Lentils A culinary demonstration was held for chefs to promote a programme of Saskatchewan Pulse Growers (SPG) of Canada in India, specifically targetted at the HORECA sector Dine Out Uniquely Southern Not many South Indian food joints boast the spread that the South Indies restaurant in Pune has by going beyond the conventional delights 26 30 32
explore chef talk news updates events beverage president’s message Dear fellow members, On behalf of FHRAI, I express our profound sorrow on the widespread devastation caused by torrential rains and flash floods in the State of Uttarakhand. Tragically, there has been a very heavy loss of life and massive damage to essential public infrastructure as well as private property. In this challenging time, the entire nation stands in complete solidarity with the Government and people of Uttarakhand. I must place on record, our collective gratitude for the heroic and tireless efforts of personnel of the armed forces, state police and other agencies who ensured the safety of thousands of stranded pilgrims, tourists and local residents in the affected region. Braving inclement weather and an arduous terrain, and at grave personal risk, all of them valiantly conducted one of the largest ever rescue operations in the country. We are also proud of the extraordinary fortitude which has been displayed by the staff and management of various hotels and restaurants even in the face of a calamity of this magnitude. As we all know, the economy of Uttarakhand is heavily dependent on tourism as its mainstay. The State has the distinction of being among the top destinations in terms of domestic tourist visits and tourism single-handedly generates over 30 per cent of its GDP. However, the hospitality and tourism industry in the State has now been dealt a severe blow and is projected to suffer losses to the tune of `12,000 crore in the current year. It is believed that 11 per cent of Uttarakhand’s Gross State Domestic Product (GSDP) for this fiscal has been washed away in terms of prospective tourism earnings on account of the recent tragedy. The industry mainly comprises of small and mid-sized establishments and micro-entrepreneurs engaged as tourism service providers. The sector serves as a vital economic ecosystem which, both directly and indirectly, supports the livelihoods of lakhs of the State’s residents. Needless to add, the industry now faces a perilous future and requires the aid of a comprehensive economic relief package to be able to stand on its feet again. We welcome the Hon’ble Tourism Minister, Dr. K. Chiranjeevi’s prompt decision to sanction `100 crore for the purpose of restoring and reconstructing damaged tourism-related infrastructure and facilities in Uttarakhand. These funds will be in addition to the `95 crore already allocated as central financial assistance for developing tourism in the State. FHRAI, our Regional Associations and a large number of our members across the country are also contributing generously to the Prime Minister’s Relief Fund as part of the spontaneous national effort to strengthen the Government’s endeavour for relief and rehabilitation in Uttarakhand. At the same time, in view of the enormity of the present crisis, FHRAI has made an urgent appeal to the Union and State Government and financial institutions to formulate a package of measures which can help address certain immediate and medium-term concerns confronting the industry. Some of the major suggestions which we have put forward are as below- • Existing working capital facilities sanctioned to the industry should be converted into term loans. Outstanding term loans should be sympathetically considered for reschedulement with longer repayment tenures and reduced interest rates. There should be a moratorium of three years on principal and interest payments for these restructured accounts. Regulatory forbearance from the Reserve Bank of India is requested so that there can be a special dispensation to allow banks to treat loans to the industry as “standard” for an extended period and not require extra provisioning • High borrowing costs of 14-16 per cent are obviously not feasible for the industry in the current circumstances. Therefore, Government should provide interest subvention on loans and instruct banks to offer short-term credit on flexible terms, so that businesses are able to continue day-to-day operations and manage any liquidity constraints caused by unprecedented challenges in the external environment, which are beyond their control • Special incentives such as capital subsidy schemes and tax holidays for hospitality and tourism projects in the State should be announced. This would give entrepreneurs the requisite confidence and ability to undertake fresh investment, which in turn, will give a much-needed impetus to the fragile regional economy, in addition to productively enhancing the sector’s capacity for future growth • The Central Government should immediately notify an exemption from Service Tax for Hotels and Restaurants throughout Uttarakhand. • Hundreds of hotels and restaurants have suffered debilitating structural damage in the floods and landslides. Many more establishments may also require to be relocated, owing to concerns over future safety. FHRAI has earnestly appealed that in all such cases, adequate financial compensation must be awarded and alternative land allocated at highly subsidised rates • The State Government should waive levies such as VAT and Luxury Tax on the hospitality industry for at least five years. In this regard, the Centre can compensate Uttarakhand, which is already classified as a ‘special category state’, for any loss of revenue by way of an additional financial grant • We whole-heartedly support the Government’s decision to prioritise the early restoration of the Char Dham Yaatra route. This will be a key for the revival of pilgrimage tourism which is the lifeline of the local economy. Re-development of this vital tourist circuit will have to be approached by carefully balancing religious sensitivities, geological conditions and environmental concerns. The process must involve proactive consultations with private sector stakeholders and global/ technical experts. The Government must also put in place a stateof-the-art weather forecasting and monitoring system for vulnerable regions and augment our disaster preparedness and response mechanisms. We believe that these measures will be indispensable for the industry in Uttarakhand to overcome the adverse impact of this colossal natural calamity and return to the sustainable growth trajectory, which had been previously envisioned by all of us. On our part, FHRAI stands steadfastly committed to offering every possible support and assistance to all our valued members across the state. With warm regards, Vivek Nair President - FHRAI
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Beautifying - Federation of Hotel and Restaurant Associations of India

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