HRAWI Petition For Abolishing Of Sign Board Licences Gets A Thumbs Up From Maha Govt

“Beginning Of The End Of Licence Raj”

Mumbai: In a landmark move the Government of Maharashtra granted the long standing demand of hoteliers and restaurateurs and abolished the sign board licenses. A recent circular issued by the Government of Maharashtra has done away with the need for retail establishments to obtain licence for advertising their own business at their operational premises. The circular has also indicated that along with the licence, retailers will no longer have to pay for the fee either. The Hotel and Restaurant Association of Western India (HRAWI) which has been leading advocacy for the cancellation of the license has welcomed the move and has commended the Government for taking progressive steps towards facilitating the ease of doing business policy.

“The move comes on the back of the ‘Model Shops and Establishments Bill’ which the Union

Bharat Malkani, President, HRAWI

Cabinet has recently given a nod to which essentially allows establishments to remain operational 24/7. Although, the State Government is yet to finalize on introducing this bill in Maharashtra, the abolishment of the sign board licence is an encouraging indication of the Government’s outlook towards ease of doing business,” says Mr. Bharat Malkani, President, HRAWI.

The new circular states that sky-signs are mainly set up for advertising, which is an integral component of every retail store. As long as the sky sign is fixed in and out of the self-owned, leased or mortgaged premise of the retail store, by the trader advertising his own business it shall not attract the requirement of permission of the Commissioner or Chief Officer or Competent Authority and payment of fees.

“The HRAWI has been tirelessly following-up with the Government for many years, including the previous Governments, to rationalize laws and policies that are either archaic or simply irrelevant today. The abolishment of this licence is welcomed by the association and the industry,” concludes Mr. Malkani.

About Hotel & Restaurant Association Western India (HRAWI)

The Hotel and Restaurant Association (Western India) is a 66 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.

For more information about the association please visit: www.hrawi.com

LORDS HOTELS & RESORTS ANNOUNCES MAJOR EXPANSION PLANS

Lords Hotels & Resorts Announces Major Expansion Plans

To Focus In The South & East; Explores Overseas Market – Aims At 40 Properties By 2020

Mumbai: India’s fastest growing hospitality chain in the mid-market segment, Lords Hotels & Resorts has announced plans to aggressively expand especially in the south and the east and also gradually establish presence in the international tourism circuit. The announcement comes on the heels of the recent launch of its three new hotel properties in Agra, Jammu and Thissur. With this, the hotel chain today stands at a count of 25 properties, including one international hotel, and is aiming at adding another 15 to take the total count to at least 40 properties by the year 2020.

Promoted as true value Hotels, Inns and Resorts, Lords is a chain of 3 and 4-star Hotels, Inns and Resorts. These offer luxurious accommodations and full-service at friendly prices for the discerning business and leisure traveler and are branded as Lords Plaza, Lords Inn, Lords Eco Inn and Lords Resorts.

Mr P R Bansal, CMD,  Lords Hotels & Resorts

“Since the formation of the company in 2007 we have looked at growing aggressively. In nine years we have marked our presence mainly in the western region and are increasing our footprint in the north. We recently added a couple of properties to our portfolio in the south including a lavish resort in Thissur. The east has a good potential for growth especially in the mid-market segment and with our strength in this area, we are positive that we would be able to quickly take a lead in the region,” says Mr. P. R. Bansal, Chairman, Lords Hotels & Resorts. “Also, after having established our presence in Nepal, we have realized that we are positioned well enough to cater to the international market. We are slated to announce the launch of our second property in Nepal and are also looking at setting feet in Kenya and some other countries in the African continent,” he adds.

The hotel chain that marks its distinction in the mid-market segment with its ‘true value’ offerings is also planning on strategic growth in the tier ll and tier lll cities and towns for a uniform spread and better penetration of its brand in the immediate future.

“The hospitality sector is under-served in this part of the world. There are more hotel rooms in New

Mr Rishi Puri, VP, Lords Hotels & Resorts

York City than there are in all of India. The scope for growth for hotels in the affordable sector especially in the tier ll and tier lll regions is larger. Our concept of true value hotels is generating a great response from our patrons. Almost all our hotels are enjoying high occupancy rates. It is our target to add four hundred new rooms by 2020,” says Mr. Rishi Puri, Vice President, Lords Hotels and Resorts.

“We are focusing on expansion across all the categories. Of our three new launches, our properties in Jammu and Agra belong to the Lords Inn brand, while our property in Kerala belongs to the Lords Resorts brand. In the forthcoming phase we will also be looking to hard promote our five branded F&B outlets and one spa. As India claims its rightful place on the global tourism map, Lords is poised to tap this great opportunity to its optimum potential,” concludes Mr. Puri.

About Lords Hotels & Resorts:

Lords Hotels & Resorts is one of India’s fastest growing hospitality chain in the mid-market segment. Since the company’s inception in 2007, it has grown to be a chain of twenty-five hotels and resorts spread across seven states in India. A chain of distinguished and independently owned 3 and 4-star Hotels, Inns and Resorts, Lords is promoted as true value properties offering luxurious accommodations and full services at friendly prices.

THE LONAVALA MONSOON RECIPE

The Lonavala Monsoon Recipe

Rumourss Sky Villa Reveals The Secret Ingredient In The Recipe

Sunset from the balcony

Mumbai: The nearest and quickest weekend getaway – Lonavala, has been the blue eyed boy for both Mumbaikars and Punekars alike. All the more, with the augment of rains, the place gets thronged by revellers from all the nearby regions making Lonavala one of the busiest tourist destinations in Maharashtra. The monsoon euphoria such builds that the legendary Lonavala chikki sells like hot cakes and the roasted corn like freshly roasted hot corns should. The popular Bhushi Dam becomes a beehive of people, all wanting to immerse a little of themselves in the overflowing waters gushing from the reservoir while the rains continue to lash on. However, barring all the traditional merriment that this paradise hill station offers, an attraction got newly added to Lonavala.

Rumourss Sky Villa & Resorts, the uniquely built boutique resort with its villas themed in the Japanese styled tree house chalets are the latest attraction featuring on the way to either Bhushi Dam, which is only 500 m further ahead or en route Tiger point. The resort which faces the Lonavala Dam is gaining tremendous popularity, firstly due to its stunning architecture that captures the attention even as one is passing by and secondly due to the spacious rooms the villas offer along with the view of the lake, the vast green expanse and the warm hospitality. Of course, the latter can be experienced only post a stay at the resort.

“I have myself always loved Lonavala and a yearly monsoon excursion with the family has been a tradition for me. So, when the thought of building a resort came to mind Lonavala was the obvious first choice. Also, the dream was to build something unique, hence the sky villas and offer exceptionally good hospitality. The villas are a novelty in themselves and offer everything that a conventional hotel can, besides adding a host of exclusive possibilities for our guests like encouraging bringing along their pets or inviting senior citizens for a day of relaxation, among many other customization that we offer from time to time,” says Mr Devang Badiani, Managing Director, Rumourss Sky Villa & Resorts.

For couples, especially those looking to spend an evening cocooned in a nest of sorts, the attic provisioned within the villas are like romance personified. The attic is accessed by a small flight of stairs from within the room which leads to the topmost part of the villa. It is enclosed by large sized window panes on the exterior side and a wall on the other. Wedged right between this is a bed that looks out into the mesmerizing wonders of nature while the rain drops splatter and trickle down the windows from the outside and which make the warmth and cosiness inside all the more romantic.

“The villas have found their niche with the guests and vice versa, quite literally. From the total categories of guests staying at our resort, including families, business, leisure travellers, it’s the couples who are making for most occupancy. We have most repeat guests as couples and I can imagine why. The attic was built with the thought of making it as dramatic and romantic as it could while providing privacy for guests. We are thrilled to know that the idea is working and each day the number of couples visiting is increasing, especially in this season,” concludes Mr. Badiani.

HOTELIERS OBSERVE SWACHH BHARAT PAKHWADA

^{Hoteliers Observe Swachh Bharat Pakhwada} 

Mumbai Swachh Bharat Pakhwada, a fortnight cleanliness drive announced by the Ministry of Corporate Affairs, Government of India has elicited a strong response from hotels across Maharashtra, Gujarat, Madhya Pradesh, Chhattisgarh, Goa and the Union Territories of Daman, Diu & Silvassa. Under this drive, the measures adopted ranged from setting up of long term cleanliness and waste management programmes to short term cleanliness activities within the premises, and initiating cleanliness awareness campaigns.

“The Hotel and Restaurant Association of Western India (HRAWI) has always worked hand-in-hand with the Government whether it’s about outlining a plan for tourism-friendly policies or supporting its social welfare campaigns such as Swachh Bharat Abhiyan. This time again, the association offered its strong support to Swachh Bharat Pakhwada,” said Mr. Bharat Malkani, President, HRAWI. “The association not only serves the interests of the hotel and restaurant industry by advocating tourism-friendly policies in conjunction with the State and Central Governments but also contributes towards community development and society at large time to time by initiating various campaigns actively,” he added.

The Swachh Bharat Pakhwada was launched on June 16. The fortnight included activities such as displaying placards in hotel premises suggesting patrons to keep their surroundings clean, hotel managers having dialogues with customers on the subject, placing stickers outside hotel premises for keeping the area litter-free, discouraging the usage of plastic bags, providing cotton napkins instead of tissue papers wherever possible among others, apart from several other cleanliness practices followed by hotels and restaurants.

The Hon. Prime Minister has given a call for ‘Swachh Bharat’ as a mass movement to realize Gandhiji’s dream of a Clean India by the 150^th birth anniversary of Mahatma Gandhi in 2019. Ministries and Departments have undertaken various activities in connection with the campaign. However, it has been felt that the range, intensity and visibility of these activities need to increase significantly. Accordingly, Government has decided to observe theme-wise fortnights, Ministry to Ministry and Department to Department, states the letter received by the association from Ministry of Corporate Affairs.

“In our industry cleanliness is not just a practice but a core value. For our guests, irrespective of the type of accommodation, cleanliness and hygiene are the basic criteria and they won’t return to a property that does not comply with this. As hoteliers, we have decided to take up the cleanliness initiatives very seriously. Although many of the practices are followed on a regular basis, the initiative will certainly revive the intensity of the drive,” Mr. Malkani further elaborated.

‘Swachh Bharat Abhiyan’ is a national campaign by the Government of India and was officially launched on 02^nd October 2014.

About Hotel & Restaurant Association Western India (HRAWI)

The Hotel and Restaurant Association (Western India) is a 66 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.

For more information about the association please visit: www.hrawi.com

PROPOSED TERMINALLY ILL PATIENT BILL IS A GOOD BEGINNING, BUT FILLED WITH LACUNAS AND CONTRADICTIONS

Proposed Terminally Ill Patient Bill Is A Good Beginning, But Filled With Lacunas And Contradictions

Mumbai: “The proposed Terminally Ill Patients Bill is a laudatory effort to address the long-standing lacuna in the Indian Healthcare System,” said Adv. Mahendrakumar Bajpai, Supreme Court Advocate and Hon. Director, Institute of Medicine & Law in his keynote address to doctors at the IPGMER & SSKM Hospital, Kolkata yesterday. But in equal breath he added that the bill seems to have been drafted in a hurry and is filled with contradictions and omissions – a few so large that it renders the bill virtually inoperable.

Adv Bajpai was speaking in reference to ‘The Medical Treatment of Terminally-Ill Patients [Protection of Patients and Medical Practitioners] Bill’ drafted and put up for public comments by the Ministry of Family Health & Welfare. “The draft, among other things, gives a terminally ill patient the right to continue or discontinue artificial life support system. By itself this is a very good development. The problem however is that most patients at this stage are usually in a coma and not in a position to take decisions,” explains Adv Bajpai.

“The bigger contradiction is that through section 11 of the bill, it expressly voids the advance directives of the terminally ill patient. So, if you give a directive at the time of hospitalization that should you become terminally ill or were to go in a coma, you should or should not be not put on life support, the instruction becomes void. This not only takes away all the advantages the bill was supposed to provide, but also is an anomaly considering that minor procedures cannot be done without the patient’s written consent, but the patient can be put on artificial life support without his or her express opposition. In Western countries, such advance instructions are the norm, and is what gives similar legislations its relevance.”

According to Bajpai, another provision of the Bill that needs reconsideration is Section 3 that gives right to a 16 year old to take such an important decision. The legal age of majority is 18 years in India. Moreover, to exercise the right to refuse treatment a higher level of maturity is needed as compared to giving consent for a treatment. So for a minor surgery of a patient below 18 years the guardian has to give consent but a terminally ill patient of 16 years can refuse to take treatment! 

This Bill gives right to an incompetent patient's relatives, friends, and doctors to approach the High Court (Section 9) for withdrawing or withholding of treatment. This could have been avoided and a high level committee of doctors and social workers would have been faster, cheaper and less troublesome to all concerned. Such high-level committee is already working in organ transplant.

“The most laudatory aspect of this statutory instrument is its recognition of the family and relatives in decisions relating to an individual. Section 3 (3) very specifically provides that after a terminally ill patient has communicated his/her decision to the doctor to withdraw or withhold treatment, the doctor must before proceeding further inform the nearest relative of the patient about the patient's decision and thereafter wait for 3 days. Law has taken into cognizance that unlike the western societies which are individualistic, Indian society is family-oriented and this differentiation needs to be recognized even when we are imitating western laws,” concludes Bajpai.

HRAWI HAILS MOVE; PETITIONS GUJ, MAHA, M P & GOA GOVT. TO EXPEDITE AMENDMENT

Mumbai Hotels Optimistic On 24/7 Operations On The Back Of Union Cabinet’s ‘Model Shops and Establishments’ Bill Approval

Mumbai: The Hotel and Restaurant Association of Western India (HRAWI) has welcomed the Union Cabinet’s decision to introduce the ‘model shops and establishments’ bill and has expressed hope that Maharashtra, Goa, Madhya Pradesh and Gujarat Governments will amend the law in their respective States at the earliest. The bill proposes to allow malls, restaurants, multiplexes and other retail establishments to remain open 24/7. When implemented, it could change the dynamics of business and nightlife, especially in the cities. The Hon’ Chief Minister of Maharashtra although has not yet declared his take on the bill, the hotel industry has expressed optimism and is expecting an expedited implementation.

“Our association has been advocating the proposal to make Mumbai a 24/7 city for quite a few years. With the Union Government’s approval, this bill may just become a reality and if implemented, it will be a landmark decision that will lead to increased revenues, employment opportunities and safety for its citizens, especially women,” says Mr. Bharat Malkani, President, HRAWI. “We welcome the centre’s proposal and strongly urge our Hon’ CM, Shri. Devendra Fadanavis to make the city 24/7 operational considering the positive outcomes of this decision,” he adds.

Last year, both the BMC and the then Police Commissioner had in principle agreed to the association’s proposal for a 24/7 Mumbai.

“An active night life offers many direct benefits to the tourism and hospitality industry. Business travellers often spend an extra night or two at destinations that have an active night life. Visitors, especially from Europe and United States, have a culture of unwinding after a day’s work. An extra night spent by tourists in Maharashtra can generate Rs. 603 crores as extra revenue for the government coffers,” concludes Mr. Kamlesh Barot, past President, HRAWI.

About Hotel & Restaurant Association Western India (HRAWI)

The Hotel and Restaurant Association (Western India) is a 66 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.

For more information about the association please visit: www.hrawi.com