India's top hotels will now deliver meals at lower rates amid lockdown

With social distancing becoming the new normal, hotels such as Indian Hotels, Marriott, Grand Hyatt and Accor Group Hotels are ensuring their meals reach the doorsteps of guests. For an industry that counts heavily on the overall experience, a personalised touch and ambience to pamper its guests, this is a first.

Guests can choose their favourite cuisines from a specially curated compact menu at a tad lower price than what they would have paid when dining at the hotel restaurants.

 The owner of Taj hotels is offering confectionary and gourmet hampers and a hamper for spa at home

Marriott International, the world's largest hotel chain, too, is pulling all plugs for its guests to beat the lockdown blues. Its brands including JW Marriott, Sheraton, Ritz Carlton, and Four Points are giving the guests an option for a take away or home delivery.

The hotels have introduced a compact menu of their signature dishes and are already seeing a positive response from local residents in their vicinity, she said. Stringent checks and safety measures are being taken while preparing, packaging and delivering these meals across homes.

Accor pledges to pay for employee Covid-19 medical bills

The group said that more than half of its Accor-branded hotels worldwide are currently closed, with this figure likely to rise to two thirds in the coming weeks.

Accor said that the deteriorating situation had led it to take “aggressive, incremental actions”, including a travel ban, hiring freeze, reduced schedules and /or furloughing for 75 per cent of global head office teams for the second quarter of this year, resulting in a reduction in costs of at least €60m for the year

Recurring investment plans have also been reviewed, reducing costs by another €60m, and other costs including sales, marketing and IT have been streamlined.

Board members will forego 20 per cent of their fees, and the group’s chairman and CEO Sébastien Bazin will take a 25 per cent pay cut, with the cash equivalent being contributed to the fund.

The group said that its “recent asset-light transformation and cash preservation strategy” meant it had a strong balance sheet, with over €2.5 billion in cash on hand and an undrawn revolving credit facility of €1.2 billion, and it stressed that while it expected “a severe impact” on its 2020 performance, it remained bullish on the long-term perspective of the hospitality industry.

Accor pledged to pay Covid-19 related hospital expenses for all of its 300,000 employees who do not have social security or medical insurance

Chef Avin Thaliath who is an expert for WorldSkills brings in a delicacy from #Italy, presenting a #tuscan region #bread for all the #skillstar looking forward to improving your #skillsfromhome

We loved the initiative! Calling All Front Office Professionals→

Hotels across India make meal packets for migrant workers and families

Ever since the outbreak of the dreaded Coronavirus, the hospitality industry has been doing its best to make a difference. Many hospitality companies across the country have also stepped forward when it comes to preparing meals for the needy and engaging in the best way possible with local authorities.

“At Radisson Hotel Group, we are committed to support our community and the country in the fight against the Coronavirus pandemic. 

The group has contributed INR 35 lakhs to the Prime Minister’s Relief Fund and also donated to United Way Delhi for Covid-19 related initiatives.

“We are routinely engaging with the government, industry bodies and fellow industry leaders at the highest levels to advocate for relief measures for the hospitality industry,”

The Atria Foundation, owners of Radisson Blu Atria Bengaluru has offered to serve 1,50,000 free meals every day for the needy in Bengaluru. Similarly, Arpit Projects Limited, owners of Radisson Udyog Vihar Gurugram and KJS Group, owners of Park Inn by Radisson IP Extension, New Delhi are providing meals to the needy.

The Pride Group of Hotels announced the distribution of 1000 food parcels every day till April 14th 2020 (lockdown period) in the cities of Pune, Ahmedabad, New Delhi, Kolkata, Chennai, Bangalore, and Nagpur.

Kerala Hotel & Restaurant Association (KHRA), an association with around 2500 members across the state are also contributing their bit.

“700 of our members are participating actively and supporting the state government in their community kitchen initiative. A lot of others have voluntarily offered their hotels,” said G Sudhiesh Kamar, President of KHRA.

Initiative By Roseate Hotels & Resorts & CII and Dwarka Dist. Police to Fight against Corona

Another Day to Brighten and Help someone. Together WE WILL MAKE IT HAPPEN. Dwarka Dist. Police in Partnership with Roseate Hotels & Resorts & CII gets ready to feed 1000 people on a daily basis under Relief & Rehabilitation initiative.Great initiative to fight against Corona

Thai Airways to ground its entire fleet for two months, all employees to take unpaid leave

2nd April 2020 – (Bangkok) Embattled Thai Airways International announced that they will ground all flights for 2 months and the employees have been requested to take two months off from 4th April to 31st May.

From today, flights to destinations in the same region have been suspended until 31st May. All flights to Europe will be cancelled from now till end of May.

Since the beginning of this year, the passenger load per flight has dropped to fewer than 50%. The President of the airline, Chakkrit Parapuntakul said many countries are on coronavirus lockdown, so the company has to suspend flights and close its offices.

Vineet Manocha Senior Vice President - Culinary at Lite Bite Foods Pvt Ltd - A Great Place to Work certified company

The 21 days Lockdown all over the country to combat COVID-19, has left thousands of destitute, daily wagers, migrant labourers struggle hard to manage even one meal. We have partnered with Swiggy to provide them daily meals, so that no one goes to bed hungry. It's our bit of giving back to the society.

Millennium Hotels and Resorts MEA names Samy Boukhaled as vice president of operations in the UAE

Millennium Hotels & Resorts MEA has named Samy Boukhaled as vice president of operations for the UAE. Boukhaled has been instrumental in implementing the expansion strategy of the company in KSA while assuming the position of vice president of operations that cultivated great success. Thus, his new appointment comes to leverage his experience in UAE.

Renowned for his revenue-oriented approach, Boukhaled has more than 30 years of experience in the industry, having held several leadership roles with hotel companies such as Accor and Sofitel, across France, Bahrain, Morocco and the KSA.

He holds an MBA in International Hotel Management from Vatel International Business School Hotel & Tourism Management in France and a Baccalaureate Degree from Morocco, among other awards and certifications.

Avani Hotels and Resorts Announces Key Management Appointments in Asia and the Maldives

Avani Hotels & Resorts is announcing a number of key appointments for its new hotels in Thailand, Indonesia and the Maldives.

Avani Ao Nang Cliff Krabi Resort and Avani+ Koh Lanta Resort, Thailand

In Thailand’s south - Avani Ao Nang Cliff Krabi Resort’s newly renovated 178-keys completed in January 2020 and Avani+ Koh Lanta Krabi Resort which will offer 87-keys and secluded access to the stunning white sand Klong Dao Beach which is scheduled to open by end of 2020 will be managed by Farah C. Jaber as Cluster General Manager.Farah started his career with Minor Hotels in 2013 as an Executive Assistant Manager at Anantara Rasananda Koh Phangan Villas in Thailand.

Avani+ Khao Lak Resort, Thailand

Scheduled to open in late 2020, the brand new Avani+ Khao Lak Resort will offer 328-keys and direct access to the pristine beaches of Khao Lak, just north of Phuket. Stephan Moonen has been appointed as General Manager and Karun Cornell as Director of Sales & Marketing for the property.

Karun also brings more than 10 years’ hospitality experience and is a graduate of Thailand’s Mahidol University International College in Travel and Hospitality Management; upon completion of his study, he started his career with Bandara Hotels & Resorts while undertaking his Master degree prior to joining Fair House Group in Koh Samui as a Group Director of Sales & Marketing.

Avani+ Fares Maldives Resort, The Republic of Maldives

Scheduled to debut in 2021, the 200-key Avani+ Fares Maldives Resort is located in the Maldives’ Baa Atoll which is a UNESCO Biosphere Reserve that is home to unique species of marine, fauna, and flora. Marlon Abeyakoon has been appointed as General Manager for the property.

Avani Seminyak Bali Resort, Indonesia

Scheduled to be rebranded in mid-2020, Avani Seminyak Bali Resort will introduce 21 residence-style accommodations and 16 private pool villas to the popular holiday island with the announcement of I Made Subrata as the new General Manager.

Made began his career in hospitality on his home-island Bali as the pre-opening team of InterContinental in 1993

Accor launches day-room bookings across 10 hotels in Bangkok for use as private offices

Accor is offering a day-use room package across 10 hotels in Bangkok to guests who need a private office space for the day.

Bangkokians who are desperately looking for a spacious hideaway to get their job done or who need a quiet place to focus on an important project can now book a room for up to 8 hours between 8:00am-8:00pm in 10 hotels.

Participating hotels are located all over Bangkok to enable local residents to select a private office location that is close to their homes:

• GRAND MERCURE ASOKE RESIDENCE

• GRAND MERCURE BANGKOK FORTUNE

• PULLMAN BANGKOK KING POWER

• PULLMAN BANGKOK SUKHUMVIT

• VIE HOTEL BANGKOK MGALLERY

• IBIS Styles Bangkok Sukhumvit Phra Khanong

• IBIS STYLES BANGKOK SUKHUMVIT 50

• NOVOTEL BANGKOK ON SIAM SQUARE

• NOVOTEL BANGKOK SUKHUMVIT 20

• MERCURE BANGKOK SUKHUMVIT 11

   Accor recommends that all travellers review guidance from the World Health Organization and follow any travel advice issued by the Thai authorities.

  Last week, Accor announced the launch of the 'ALL Heartist Fund', a COVID-19 special purpose vehicle dedicated to supporting employees and partners globally. This fund will typically assist the Group's 300,000 employees, pledging to pay for their COVID-19-related hospital expenses, for those who do not have social security or medical insurance, as well as furloughed employees suffering great financial distress.

  The fund will also seek to support individual partners facing financial difficulty and assist in the deployment of solidarity initiatives to support front-line healthcare professionals and non-profit organisations.

Candy Marth has been appointed General Manager at IntercityHotel Rostock

43-year old Candy Marth is an experienced manager who has emerged from Deutsche Hospitality's own ranks. Candy Marth took over the reins at the 174-room IntercityHotel Rostock on the Baltic Coast with effect from 1 April.

Candy Marth has worked for the hotel group for 20 years. During this period, she has fulfilled various roles in the fields of management assistance and human resources as well as being Head of Events at the Intercity Hotel Stralsund.

Ms. Marth replaces Katrin Schissler as General Manager of the IntercityHotel Rostock.

Steven Drewery Named Executive Assistant Manager for the Pan Pacific London Hotel

Pan Pacific London announced the appointment of Steven Drewery as Executive Assistant Manager for Pan Pacific Hotels Group's first London property, opening in Autumn 2020.

Steven joins from The Biltmore Mayfair, where he was an integral part of the pre-opening and operational activity for the first London outpost of Hilton's most upmarket brand, LXR Hotels & Resorts.

In the new Executive Assistant Manager position, he will support Anne Golden, General Manager, on strategic decision making in addition to overseeing all Pan Pacific London's food and beverage operations. A highly established professional within the industry, Steven has an exemplary background in luxury hotel management and F&B operations, which includes positions at JW Marriott Grosvenor House; Fairmont Bab Al Bahr; Giorgio Armani, Ritz-Carlton and Conrad in Tokyo; Swissotel Singapore; and Peninsula Hong Kong.

Set to open its doors in Autumn 2020, Pan Pacific London will be taking reservations from Spring 2020. Located in a mixed-use development at One Bishopsgate Plaza, the City's new landmark tower, the hotel is currently under construction and will provide a new hospitality offering to The City of London. 

Sandra Wigger Promoted General Manager At IntercityHotel Zurich Airport, Switzerland

30-year old Sandra Wigger began her career by training as a hotel specialist at the Mövenpick Hotel Zurich Airport and has continued to expand her knowledge base ever since.

In September 2019, she obtained a degree level qualification in "Hospitality Controlling & Hotel Asset Management" after completing a 6-month course of study at the IST University of Applied Sciences.

Sandra Wigger was employed at the Steigenberger Bellerive au Lac between November 2014 and December 2019. She held positions as Front Office Manager and then as Rooms Division Manager during this period before making the switch to IntercityHotel GmbH on 1 January 2020.

Exclusive Interview | Dinesh Pai, Pastry Chef at Four Seasons Hotel Mumbai

How did it all start? Share your culinary journey with us

I was always passionate about working in Luxury hotels and working as a Chef. My father & I would cook lunch on Saturdays and Sundays. We dint have much Culinary tv shows at that time, but what I can recollect was magazines showcasing charismatic and vibrant colours. 

I used to work part-time as casual while studying at my hotel school in IHM Mumbai to keep up paying fees. So I had a fair idea about the industry. 

After completing my studies they offered me a job at  Grand Hyatt Mumbai as an employee. I was working as a baker doing night shift baking bread, croissant and morning bakeries. 

Then I joined Four Seasons Mumbai pre-opening and then down the line I was transferred to many Four Seasons brands in the Maldives. 

Read The Full Interview > Click here

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Interesting Interviews

Himmat Anand, Founder at Tree of Life Resorts says 'I also believe that if some heads have to roll, as an absolute necessity for the survival of the rest of the flock, so be it.'

MORE COVERAGE ON COVID-19

Marriott International Notifies Guests of Property System Incident

Hotels operated and franchised under Marriott’s brands use an application to help provide services to guests at hotels. At the end of February 2020, the company identified that an unexpected amount of guest information may have been accessed using the login credentials of two employees at a franchise property. The company believes that this activity started in mid-January 2020. Upon discovery, the company confirmed that the login credentials were disabled, immediately began an investigation, implemented heightened monitoring, and arranged resources to inform and assist guests. Marriott also notified relevant authorities and is supporting their investigations.

Although Marriott’s investigation is ongoing, the company currently has no reason to believe that the information involved included Marriott Bonvoy account passwords or PINs, payment card information, passport information, national IDs, or driver’s license numbers.

At this point, the company believes that the following information may have been involved for up to approximately 5.2 million guests, although not all of this information was present for every guest involved:

• contact details (e.g., name, mailing address, email address, and phone number)

• loyalty account information (e.g., account number and points balance, but not passwords)

• additional personal details (e.g., company, gender, and birthday day and month)

• partnerships and affiliations (e.g., linked airline loyalty programs and numbers)

• preferences (e.g., stay/room preferences and language preference)

  Marriott is sending emails to guests involved. Marriott has also set up a dedicated website (www.mysupport.marriott.com) and call center resources with additional information for guests. The call center resources can be reached by calling the numbers listed on the dedicated website. The email sent to guests and the website also contain a list of steps guests involved can consider taking and information about enrolling in a personal information monitoring service that Marriott is providing.

Kimpton Charlotte Square (UK) has announced the appointment of Kieran Quinn as General Manager

Kimpton Charlotte Square, has announced the appointment of Kieran Quinn as General Manager. Kieran will oversee the 199 room property located in the heart of Edinburgh and brings over 20 years of experience

He began his career in hospitality in his teenage years in his native Donegal in Ireland. He then qualified with distinction from Shannon College of Hotel Management in Ireland

His most recent position was General Manager for Crowne Plaza Edinburgh Royal Terrace where he was instrumental in completing the hotel’s renovation, increasing average rate and achieving record revenues for the hotel

Commenting on his new position as Hotel General Manager, He said: “The Kimpton ethos is one I'm incredibly passionate about. We believe that heartfelt human connections can really make a difference to people's lives. This goes for the team as well as our guests. It's the authentic personal touches that we deliver day in day out here at the hotel that make a real difference to our guests' experience.

A Mexican Chef Makes History As The First Mexican Woman To Win A Michelin Star

The 36-year-old leads the team at the Gucci Osteria da Massimo Bottura restaurant in Florence, Italy. She’s also the sole female to be named in the 2020 Michelin Guide Italy.

 Michelin’s review of her restaurant: “The cuisine of theatrical chef Massimo Bottura has arrived in Florence, demonstrating openness to the rest of the world, with influences and reinterpretations of dishes from other countries, as well as Italy and Modena in particular. A visit to the Gucci Garden, an elegant museum on the upper floors dedicated to the famous fashion house, is highly recommended.” We love how the review includes that López is including perhaps Mexican influences in her Italian creations

For more info please visit below mention link:

https://wearemitu.com/culture/karime-lopez-chef-michelin-star/#brid_cp_Brid_12348598

Hilton Partners with Leading Companies to Find Temporary Jobs for Displaced Hotel Team Members

As the hospitality industry responds to the novel coronavirus (COVID-19), Hilton is partnering with leading companies to connect workers from temporarily suspended hotels with hundreds of thousands of short-term jobs created by the global pandemic.

Hilton Team Members, and others in the industry seeking employment, will be given direct access and in some cases expedited access to temporary jobs on the Hilton Workforce Resource Center at companies such as Albertsons, Amazon, CVS, Lidl, Sunrise Senior Living and Walgreens.

These partners recognize the power of a service culture and the value of hospitality skills training Hilton Team Members are known to receive. With a diverse range of experience reflected in the eligible candidate pool, these Team Members are an ideal fit to quickly step in and assist organizations in temporary assignments.

Hilton hopes to expand the program globally and plans to welcome these Team Members back when travel resumes.