HRAWI WELCOMES CM’S MOVE TO BOOST HOSPITALITY & TOURISM

First simplification step For The Hotel Industry – Maharashtra triggers Ease Of Business

The Maharashtra Tourism’s Maharashtra International Travel Mart (MITM) 2015 became a landmark event for Tourism in the State, as Chief Minister Shri Devendra Fadnavis announced some major reforms for the hospitality industry. In a bid to boost tourism in the state, the CM showed his commitment for ‘Ease of Business’ by clubbing common permissions and scrapping some of the outdated licenses due to their archaic outlive of operating  hotel and restaurant businesses.

Based on the proposals submitted to the government and convincing each one concerned, in spite of their transferable portfolios over this decade, the Hotel and Restaurant Association of Western India (HRAWI) single-handedly got some of the key resolutions passed by the CM like the reduction of operating licences from 75 to 25, requiring only 5 forms for obtaining all these licences, abolishment of event licences for pre-designated locations, permission for live performances, among others.

Mr. Bharat Malkani, President, HRAWI said that this is a big step forward that will lead to increase

Bharat Malkani, President,
HRAWI

of investments in hospitality industry for Maharashtra. “We have been engaging with various departments of the State government like Police, BMC, Excise etc as well as the Central government for the last ten years on this. The impact of this move will be visible in the immediate to the long term. We are absolutely thrilled with the CM’s announcement and are grateful to the government for acknowledging and addressing our woes.”

HRAWI has been advocating the implementation of an online single window clearance system for renewal of licences for the hotel industry, through a consultant appointed by MTDC. The association had also submitted a proposed Tourism Policy 2015, to the government of Maharashtra with a Vision statement.

“Licences with a common purpose were clubbed within a single license, while out-dated regulating licenses were annulled with concurrence from the concerned authority on

Kamlesh Barot, President,
HRAWI

practical time-lines. With the implementation of the proposal, MTDC would become the nodal agency to which restaurants and hotels will apply for new reduced licenses and existing renewals. MTDC will act as a single window that will in turn fetch all licenses from the relevant departments and have the applicants pick them up from the same window, preferably online. An online application alike today’s shopping carts will have drop-down forms with timelines and fees to click on a single window that will increase the room and restaurant supply for the State  besides reducing waste of time for everybody as well as  increase efficiency. Today a foreigner staying one extra night in the State will increase forex revenue to Maharashtra government of Rs. 609 crores, per night,” says Mr. Kamlesh Barot, past President, HRAWI.

“Going the online route, like passport applications, will also ensure that the permits are granted within a set time frame. Ultimately we should be able to curb the number of licenses, permits, NOCs and registrations from 112 to 20 for opening a new establishment as well as simplify renewing of existing licenses and abolishment of archaic  rules of the BMC, Police and Excise departments, reorient the Urban Development, Energy and Labour departments, among others. If sanctioned and implemented at the earliest, the proposal holds capacity to boost tourism and realise the ‘Corruption-free India’ dream at least for the hospitality sector,” concludes Mr. Barot.

About Hotel & Restaurant Association Western India (HRAWI)

The Hotel and Restaurant Association (Western India) is a 65 years old Association of Hotels and Restaurants in Western India. Its members include smaller Hotels up to 5-Star Deluxe categories. The bulk of its members like any growth economy are made up of budget hotels. With around 1300 members across Western India, HRAWI covers Maharashtra, Gujarat, Madhya Pradesh, Chhattisgarh, Goa and the Union Territories of Daman, Diu & Silvassa, and is considered to be the voice of the Hotel Industry. The association is part of the national body of Federation of the Hotels & Restaurants Associations of India (FHRAI), located in New Delhi, which was originally founded in Mumbai in 1950 by the late Mr. J.R.D. Tata.

HOSPITALITY INDUSTRY ALSO HOPES FOR A MORE PRAGMATIC APPROACH FOR ENCOURAGING ENTERPRISE

HRAWI Commends MTDC’s MITM Initiative

Mumbai: The Hotel and Restaurant Association of Western India (HRAWI) has welcomed Maharashtra Tourism’s Maharashtra International Travel Mart (MITM) 2015 initiative and has expressed optimism about its effect on the hospitality industry. The event is expected to bring together organisations from the travel trade industry, travel agents, tour operators, hoteliers, among others for encouraging new business relationships and open new avenues for businesses to synergize. The hospitality industry while commending this initiative, has also expressed hope from the tourism department to address some core issues pertaining to tourism pragmatically, in order to encourage and attract new players.

Bharat Malkani, President, HRAWI

“At the outset, MITM is a forthcoming and practical initiative by the tourism department of Maharashtra. Its initiation asserts the department’s objective of making the state a value proposition for tourists. We are pleased to know that the tourism authority is making efforts in this direction and are positive that its outcome will benefit hospitality as well,” says Mr. Bharat Malkani, President, HRAWI.

“For tourism to flourish it is critical that all stakeholders involved should have a level playing field and new enterprise should be encouraged. Till the time, policies and laws are archaic or not in sync with the changing times, the industry would end up spending all their time battling administrative chores instead of engaging in productive activities. This will result in a scattered, rather than a concentrated effort towards bettering tourism. We hope that the tourism department takes constructive steps such as implementation of the single window clearance system, improving infrastructure, providing due consideration to ancillary industries including hospitality while promoting tourism on a global map,” he adds.

“For the last one decade the hospitality industry in Mumbai has been at the receiving end of some very unfriendly taxations and policies. Over taxing and impractical policies adversely affect the cost and convenience of inbound tourists and over the long term decreases total revenues of the State. Initiatives like MITM reposes the seriousness and commitment of the Government. We also believe that the feedback that they get from the delegates will prompt them to relook at some of the redundant laws and impractical policies and taxes. We hope the new Government will bring in a new outlook,” concludes Mr. Malkani.

About Hotel & Restaurant Association Western India (HRAWI)

The Hotel and Restaurant Association (Western India) is a 65 years old Association of Hotels and Restaurants in Western India. Its members include smaller Hotels up to 5-Star Deluxe categories. The bulk of its members like any growth economy are made up of budget hotels. With around 1300 members across Western India, HRAWI covers Maharashtra, Gujarat, Madhya Pradesh, Chhattisgarh, Goa and the Union Territories of Daman, Diu & Silvassa, and is considered to be the voice of the Hotel Industry. The association is part of the national body of Federation of the Hotels & Restaurants Associations of India (FHRAI), located in New Delhi, which was originally founded in Mumbai in 1950 by the late Mr. J.R.D. Tata.

Driving Rewards In India

Changing Dynamics Of Marketing In India

Mumbai: With India maturing as a competitive market, rewards have emerged as one of the most powerful marketing tools for attracting and engaging consumers - be it retail, lifestyle, telecom, banking or any other segment. And in the last few years, rewarding took a march forward moving beyond mere discounts and freebies to enhancing experiences.

“Until the effects of liberalization panned out, India was sellers, and often a monopoly, market. So neither the manufacturers nor the retailers felt the need to explore non-traditional avenues of marketing. But in the last decade or so, the full effects of liberalization started becoming visible. One of the direct fallout was the realization that a high decibel advertising campaign alone would not suffice and companies would have to adopt smarter techniques,” says Javed Akhtar, CEO, RewardPort, India’s largest incentive and loyalty management services Company.

According to Javed, Indian customers are in for a bonanza in terms of getting freebies and goodies with every purchase. “And this is not necessarily a costly process for the company. For instance, we ran a cross promotion programme for Colgate Total where every consumer who purchased the product - which was priced at Rs. 100/- received a free gift voucher from Myntra for Rs.200/-. While the value for Colgate is evident, Myntra benefitted with a new consumer base who, so far had not considered purchasing online.”

The rewards segment, that includes customer loyalty programmes, employee incentives, and customer and channel loyalty programmes, is estimated at Rs. 22,000 crores. With roughly 20 million loyalty programmes against 700 million in the US, India is a mere 3 per cent of the loyalty programme market. However, Mr. Akhtar expects these figures to increase gradually with a 20-25 per cent (YoY) growth rate. “This is the fastest growing segment today. And the scope for growth is immense. A big section of corporates are yet to explore customer loyalty and reward programmes, but those who have tried it once are allocating more time, energy and money on rewards. As pointed out earlier, this technique is rewarding for both the marketer as well the consumer. A recent study has revealed that not only over 80% business comes from loyal consumers but they also end up spending 10 times more than new customer over a lifetime. In addition loyal consumers potentially up-sell a client’s business by 60- 70% through spreading good words,” adds Mr. Akhtar.

One of the few companies driving the growth of this segment is RewardPort. Launched in 2008, it began as an offshoot of TravelPort Holidays, one of the fastest growing travel firms of the time, offering vacation packages and travel gift certificates for a small set of clients. “The early responses were enough to give us an indication that this is a game changer. The market was ripe and India was ready to transition into evolved marketing. We shifted our focus from the travel division, which at that time was going through a recessionary phase, and backed RewardPort. The rest, as they say, is history,” smiles Mr. Akhtar. In the last two years alone, RewardPort posted 200% cumulative growth. By the end of 2014, it was servicing over 250 clients with a team of 150 professionals and notching a turnover of over 75 crores, which in turn is expected to quadruple by the end of the current fiscal year.

“Customer loyalty and rewarding will radically change the marketing landscape of India. With a little bit of creative input and strategic thought it can end up creating value for all the stakeholders. What makes this space exciting is the role of technology, which is expected to add many new dimensions. There is a big bonanza waiting for the Indian consumer in the next few months,” concludes Javed Akhtar. 

HRAWI WELCOMES TRAI’S DECISION, HIKE OF 15 – 20 % AVERTED

No Additional Charge To Watch TV In Hotels & Restaurants

Mumbai: The Telecom Regulatory Authority of India (TRAI) through a circular has ruled against differential cable TV rates levied at hotels and restaurants.  Declaring it should be at par with domestic charges, it maintained that additional cost of watching TV would be applicable only if charged separately or if charges are being levied for entry. The Hotel and Restaurant Association of Western India (HRAWI) along with the apex body Federation of Hotel and Restaurant Associations of India (FHRAI) had been agitating for regulated tariff for Hotel Industry since 2004 and had submitted its detailed comments to the consultation paper. The HRAWI has welcomed the decision which has averted an approximate 15-20 per cent increase in room tariffs and restaurant bills.

Bharat Malkani,
President, HRAWI

“We had been contesting against differential tariffs for over a decade and our efforts have paid off. It has been declared a necessity for the benefit of customers and not a luxury,” says Mr. Bharat Malkani, President, HRAWI. “The channels and broadcasters wanted commercial establishments to pay additional charges than what was paid by domestic subscribers. Although in cases where any establishment exploits TV broadcasting by charging additionally to its patrons, will then be required to pay at commercial tariffs,” he adds.

The Federation of Hotel and Restaurant Associations of India (FHRAI) submitted that in 2006, the Supreme Court had held that television is a mere amenity in hotel rooms just like fans and air-conditioners and had submitted its detailed comments to the consultation paper. It had represented at the Open House Discussion and submitted to the authority that hotels and restaurants be treated at par with Domestic subscribers, as TV signal is a part of other amenity provided free of charge by hotels to their guests.

The FHRAI also stated that channels do not subsidize ordinary subscribers like it happens in electricity or water to demand higher tariff for commercial subscribers. “We had argued that members do not charge separately for watching TV programs in restaurants , it’s a mere amenity and customers today demand TV sets for information or to watch their favourite sport while enjoying their drink or food. Besides even the tourism departments have mandated installing TVs in hotels for a better tourist experience. Commercial tariff for cable TV would have meant that customers would have to pay additional by way of higher food or beverage cost,” says Mr. Pradeep Shetty, Chairman - Legal Matters sub-committee, FHRAI and HRAWI.

About Hotel & Restaurant Association Western India (HRAWI)

The Hotel and Restaurant Association (Western India) is a 65 years old Association of Hotels and Restaurants in Western India. Its members include smaller Hotels up to 5-Star Deluxe categories. The bulk of its members like any growth economy are made up of budget hotels. With around 1300 members across Western India, HRAWI covers Maharashtra, Gujarat, Madhya Pradesh, Chhattisgarh, Goa and the Union Territories of Daman, Diu & Silvassa, and is considered to be the voice of the Hotel Industry. The association is part of the national body of Federation of the Hotels & Restaurants Associations of India (FHRAI), located in New Delhi, which was originally founded in Mumbai in 1950 by the late Mr. J.R.D. Tata.

BODY CARE – AN APP FOR PREVENTIVE CURE ON iOS & ANDROID

India’s Only Holistic Mobile Wellness App, Launched

Mumbai: Care World TV - the first and largest healthcare satellite channel in Asia has announced the launch of its wellness mobile app ‘Body Care’. The app will give users access to unlimited videos on various wellness aspects ranging from beauty to diet, fitness to sex and yoga to astrology. Besides this, the app incorporates a personalised interactive feature that allows users to direct queries to Subject Matter Experts (SME)s and doctors to receive one-on-one consultation. The app interface is user-friendly and is available on both iOS and Android platforms. The app has been built with the dual intent of accessibility and privacy.

Ajit Gupta, Managing Director, Care World TV

“The health and wellness industry in India is embarking upon a new era of preventive wellness, as against curative wellness. Taking cue of the trend, we at Care World have yet again taken the lead in making available the resources into people’s hands, quite literally,” says Mr. Ajit Gupta, Managing Director, Care World TV. “With an inventory of over thirty thousand videos covering all aspects of wellness, delivered by experts from around the world, the app is a complete knowledge bank and guide on the subject for anyone who has a smart phone. The content is dynamically updated and will stream around two hundred videos per day in all different categories,” he adds.

In the last seven years of its existence, Care World TV as a medium has contributed much to the development and progress of this industry. Bridging the gap between the functionary and the beneficiary, Care World TV today is the epitome of health and wellness.

“Data suggests that online users in India, not just urban but also rural, access internet on their phones more than on other devices. Considering this, we wanted to reach out to a larger audience and an app works as the ideal solution. All video content on Body Care is HD quality and despite being in HD, one will not experience any buffering in the streaming. Each video clip may range between three and ten minutes with information that is clear, concise and comprehensive,” says Mr. Ashok Singh, Creative Head, Care World TV.

Today, contemporary media is omnipresent and becoming available on mobile apps has been the latest addition. However barring popular media, there are very few channels that air niche content which have taken lead in launching a mobile app. In the health and wellness domain, Care World TV has become the first to do so and has already gained tremendous response for its mobile app - Body Care.

“Over the last one decade, the health and wellness industry has come a long way in educating and familiarizing Indian audiences with the concept of wellness. We are proud to have played the role of torch bearers and pioneered the concept of wellness, ahead of its time. Today, we are happy that new players are joining the fraternity and are planning on launching wellness channels. This only indicates that the industry has evolved and is ready to move into the next phase of its growth. So, the launch of our wellness app comes at a great time and we are positive that it will create a new benchmark and which will be followed by many,” concludes Mr. Gupta.

About Care World TV: CARE WORLD TV, Asia's only Satellite healthcare TV Channel, emerged as the need of the hour by fulfilling a vacant niche, has successfully completed 7 years of disseminating health related information to the masses thus bridging the gap between the functionary and the beneficiary. Keeping in tune with the boom in the healthcare Industry with constant changes, in trends, development, research, the channel has introduced various innovative shows with exclusive content. The content is produced in its Mumbai involving experts from the industry has generated viewers in India, Bangkok, Pakistan, Nepal and many more Asian countries. Care World is available on all major Cable Networks across the country and also can be accessed on Videocon DTH.

UWDMA INTRODUCES QUALITY GUIDELINES FOR WINDOW & DOOR PROFILES

UWDMA Introduces Quality Guidelines For Window & Door Profiles

Mumbai: The uPVC Window and Doors Manufacturers Association (UWDMA) has recently drafted a set of Quality guidelines to create benchmark of technical specifications of uPVC Windows and Doors. The new guidelines have been set in order to give consumers a better understanding of the options available and help them make the best choice. For ease, convenience and accessibility, the association has also listed the guidelines online at www.uwdmaindia.org.

Currently the windows and doors profiles in India are dominated by aluminum and wood. World over, uPVC profile is the default choice. They not only provide greater durability, but also offer stunning looks and ultimate energy efficiency by entirely keeping out noise, dust, heat or cold. uPVC windows also are more cost effective than aluminum and wood when compared apple to apple. In the last few years, more and more projects in India have upgraded to uPVC windows and doors profiles and have become the fastest growing segment in the industry.

The draft will be shared among all stakeholders, directly and indirectly involved in the line of

business, across India. Some of the key points covered under the new guidelines will address all aspects of a given uPVC window and door profile. This includes Profiles Quality parameters, hardware tested for functionality, strength, operation & smoothness, usage of galvanised steel, processed glass only as per standards set by Federation of Safety Glass, Quality System Procedure or Quality documents to be verified of the manufacturer and installation.

“Lately, we have started witnessing some players, especially from the unorganized segment, compromise on the quality and safety to achieve better sales. It is our endeavour to protect the consumers’ interest by providing them with adequate information via setting down Quality guidelines that’ll help them make an informed decision,” says Mr. Rajesh Chawla, Vice-President, UWDMA.

UWDMA through Bureau of Indian Standards is also working on a standard for the Indian market based on the EN 12608 with certain parameters adapted to suit the Indian climatic conditions and test ability. The profiles, besides being required to conform to EN 12608:2003 are also required that their class be specified by the manufacturer clearly printed on the profile so that the customer can identify the brand or original manufacturer and the standard followed. A draft copy of the current UWDMA standards can be downloaded through the website http://www.uwdmaindia.org/

“uPVC as a material is not only used in window and door applications but also in piping, water storage, roofing membranes, electrical insulation among others. However, when it comes to the windows and doors industry because of non-adherence in standardization here unlike in the western countries, uPVC products may lose sheen. Since the uPVC windows and doors market is expected to grow in the years to come, we want to build a strong foundation so that the market does not get infiltrated with sub-standard products. If we cut corners at this juncture the windows and doors market may end up like the unorganized aluminium or wood products. The new benchmarks have been created with the objective of streamlining the industry and instilling trust in the minds of consumers. We are also aggressively driving membership in the association so that more and more stakeholders become part and voice of the booming uPVC windows and doors industry,” concludes Mr. Chawla.

About UWDMA: uPVC Window & Door Manufacturers Association, known as UWDMA is a non-profit body formed to create value proposition benefiting all from use of uPVC windows across India. Established in 2008, UWDMA is a non-governmental organization formed by industry leaders to promote and propagate uPVC windows and doors and its benefits to the Indian construction industry and general public at large.

NEW RANGE FROM KALINGASTONE TO REVOLUTIONISE CONVENTIONAL PERCEPTION OF MARBLE

NexGen Engineered Stones Break Aesthetic Barriers

Felini as Flooring and Mocca Marmo on Back Wall

Mumbai: India’s number 1 stone company, Classic Marble Company (CMC) has announced the launch of a new collection of GenNex engineered marble under its flagship brand Kalingastone. Nine new products, a collection of rare marble designs, engineered with top quality raw materials sourced from across the world and by using state of the art imported machinery, are expected to mark a new beginning in the sphere of engineered marble.

Vikas Kesarkar,Vice President
-Marketing, CMC

“We have combined technology, design and aesthetics to introduce engineered marble like none before. The new series have a look and feel that is almost as rich and real as natural marble. Our design team has broken many aesthetic barriers with the new launch. The series will be path breakers in more ways than one,” says Mr. Vikas Kesarkar, Vice President – Marketing, CMC.

Inspired by its Italian lineage, the new set of engineered marble have been christened as Nero Portoro, Rosso Levante, Felini, Grigio Cristallo, Mocca Marmo, Luna, Pietra Serina, Marcello and  Grigio Aurelio.

Nero Portoro and Rosso Levante carry abstract designs on dark backdrops with striking bronze and ivory patterns that are interspersed through the entire slab. When wall mounted, the installations accentuate the beauty of the area, be it a bathroom or a study. Felini, Grigio Cristallo, Mocca Marmo, Luna, and Pietra Serina are subtly styled for mostly flooring applications. While Felini and Grigio Cristallo are shades of beige, the former being lighter than the latter, Mocca Marmo has contemporary brown shade. Luna and Pietra Serina are variants of the colour grey. All these marble exhibit the same grainy gradient throughout the surface of the slab. Both are excellent choice for application in stairways. In fact, a mix and match of these marble can add a rich appeal to the installation.

Marcello on Floor

Marcello, meanwhile, is contemporary beige marble which has the design that replicates marble as found naturally. The patterns of white depict the water currents of a flowing stream against the muddier background of beige. The stone is more familiarly seen as flooring in office lobbies or even in residential applications in living rooms or bedrooms.

Grigio Aurelio, basically classified as grey marble has fragmented silica chips ranging from micro, small to medium sizes and appears beautifully as table tops as well as in framing French windows.

A scaled up installation of the product gives a grandeur look to the space or can also be customised as per the requirement of a buyer. The newly launched range is a perfect blend of beauty and utility and is ideal for every application, be it residential or commercial.

“CMC introduced Kalingastone with the very intent of giving people the selection of installing marble of choice while keeping it affordable. Our latest range is a well-planned and meticulously designed portfolio of marble and this innovation will certainly create another benchmark in the segment. We are positive that our new range of products will be appreciated by the end users. We will continue to innovate and strive to deliver better products from time to time,” concludes Mr. Kesarkar.

About Classic Marble Company: A pioneer in the imported marble industry, Classic Marble Company (CMC) since its inception in 1994 has grown to become the number 1 stone company in India. Over 700 of the company’s product offerings are manufactured at its state-of-the-art plant spread over 5,00,000 sq. m. of land and distributed through exclusive showrooms and several distributor and dealer network in India and overseas. CMC’s factory at Silvassa is an ocean of opulence exhibiting 30,000 metric tons of raw blocks, with a production capacity 75,000 sq. ft. of marble and granite and the expertise to execute turnkey projects.

HOTEL ASSOCIATION FEARS RANDOM INSPECTION BY BMC WILL LEAD TO RAID RAJ

Hotel Association Fears Random Inspection By BMC Will Lead To Raid Raj

Mumbai: The Hotel and Restaurant Association of Western India (HRAWI) has come out in strong condemnation of BMC’s decision to conduct random checks at star hotels and Grade – I hotels in the city to inspect their cleanliness and health aspects. The civic body’s health department plans to draw hotels and restaurants for inspection by lottery system and officers will visit respective establishment premises unannounced. Ironically, barring the star category and Grade – I restaurants, the BMC has no such plans for the rest of the hotels and restaurants in the city.

Questioning the motive, the association has opined that this is nothing but a harassment tactic. “If the BMC were really serious about health and sanitation issues, they would be addressing the issue of unlicensed eateries that don’t follow any procedures and prepare food in filthy conditions. The water they use, the storage condition, the constant exposure to dust, the pests that run in and out from these stalls don’t seem to concern the BMC at all. In this context, targeting the Grade – I restaurants and star hotels is curious,” says Mr. Gurbaxish Singh Kohli, Vice President, HRAWI.

The 65 year old HRAWI is one of the oldest and the most efficient industry associations. Asserting a tradition of proactive partnership with the government, it has drawn attention to the long practice of self regulation followed by city restaurants and has stated that the BMC’s decision to pick only star and grade 1 restaurants is arbitrary and illogical. “We have always been compliant to food safety standards and the services have only improved over time. Our families and friends eat at our restaurants as often as guests do. But without a framework or plan, the inspectors will turn up at the busiest time and disrupt normal functioning. Random raids, as we have seen in the past, go on to serve only one purpose, and that is harassment. We hope BMC will withdraw the decision,” said Mr. Bharat Malkani, President, HRAWI.

Mr. Malkani also pointed out that maintaining hygiene standards is the function of Food Safety and Standards Authority of India (FSSAI) and the BMC should be focused on curbing food cooked and sold without adopting any hygiene or health guidelines rather than creating a raid raj.

“Being penalized for forming a vital factor of the organized sector, this discrimination of facilitating the unorganized roadside eateries only shows that we get harassed and victimized as the soft targets,”said Mr. Kamlesh Barot, past president, HRAWI.

About Hotel & Restaurant Association Western India (HRAWI)

The Hotel and Restaurant Association (Western India) is a 65 years old Association of Hotels and Restaurants, representing majority of Hotels and Restaurants across Western India, which covers Maharashtra, Gujarat, Madhya Pradesh, Chhattisgarh, Goa and the Union Territories of Daman, Diu & Silvassa and is more or less considered to be the voice of the Hotel Industry / Fraternity. The four Regional Associations form a part of the “Federation of Hotel & Restaurant Associations of India” (FHRAI) at the centre in New Delhi, which is our parent body. The Association is part of the national body of the “Federation of Hotel & Restaurant Associations of India”, which was originally founded in Mumbai in 1950, by the late Mr. J.R. D. Tata.