Spain’s Hospitality Industry Watches How Belgium Swaps ‘Happy Hour’ for ‘Helpy Hour’ to Avoid Going Under

Key Take Away

‘HELPY hour’ – which replaces happy hour – was launched by Belgium’s Federation of Cafes to help stop its hospitality establishments from going under.

So instead of getting two drinks for one – as is the case in ‘happy hour’ – ‘helpy hour’ allows punters to pay double for a drink, which is basically the reverse of happy hour. The initiative has been launched to save struggling bars and cafes amid the lockdown.

For More Information click below:

www.euroweeklynews.com/2020/06/06/spains-hospitality-industry-watches-how-belgium-swaps-happy-hour-for-helpy-hour-to-avoid-going-under/

Hotel stocks surge as govt allows resumption of hospitality services from June 8

Key Take Away

Hotel stocks are rallying after the Home Ministry's announced the re-opening of economic and other activities in the country except for containment zones, which will continue to remain in lockdown till June 30.

The government has allowed hotels, restaurants, and other hospitality services to resume operations from June 8 onwards.

Hotel Association of India Vice President K.B. Kachru said, "The pandemic and consequent lockdowns have had a disastrous impact on the hotel sector."

For More Information

www.cnbctv18.com/market/stocks/hotel-stocks-surge-nearly-18-as-govt-allows-resumption-of-hospitality-services-from-june-8-6042661.htm

Lockdown 5.0: Chennai restaurants battle manpower crunch after migrant workers return home

key Take Away

With most migrant workers have left for their home states, many restaurants in the city are struggling to reopen for business even as the lockdown restrictions are being relaxed

Many restaurants which were owned by people from neighboring states like Kerala and Andhra Pradesh also remain closed as employees rushed back to their hometowns just before the lockdown

Local workers demand Rs 700 to Rs 1000 per day and with the outlook for business remaining uncertain, it was a risk.

But some other restaurants in the city managed to keep their workers here by taking care of their needs during the lockdown.

For More Information

www.newindianexpress.com/cities/chennai/2020/jun/01/lockdown-50-chennai-restaurants-battle-manpower-crunch-after-migrant-workers-return-home-2150830.html

Occupancy fall among steepest for Indian hotels

Key Take Away

As per hospitality consultancy HVS Anarock’s Hotels & Hospitality Overview, occupancies in India declined 81% in April from a year earlier. HVS is estimating a similar decline for May as well.

In the US, occupancies during April shrank almost 64% while for the UK, the decline was 71.3% as per HVS and STR data. For China and Singapore, occupancies during the same period declined by 48.7% and 29.2% respectively.
In a note on May 27, investment information and credit rating agency ICRA said demand had declined to the lowest levels the industry had ever witnessed in India during the extended lockdown, and that it was clear that it was the biggest crisis faced by the sector.

For More Information

economictimes.indiatimes.com/industry/services/hotels-/-restaurants/occupancy-fall-among-steepest-for-india-hotels/articleshow/76143482.cms

Senior Management of Sayaji Hotels announces to forgo their salary for an indefinite period

Key Take Away

In the wake of the Covid-19 crisis, Suchitra Dhanani, founding director of Sayaji Hotels has announced to forego 100 percent of her salary for an indefinite period.

In similar lines, Saba Dhanani, Director of Operations, Sayaji Group, Sumera Dhanani, Business Analyst Manager and Jameel Sayed, Director of Operations would also forgo their salary for an indefinite period.

Hopefully this would help some of our staff who had been the pillar of our success story. This is the least we could do during the lockdown

For More Information

www.hotelierindia.com/business/10975-senior-management-of-sayaji-hotels-announces-to-forgo-their-salary-for-an-indefinite-period

National Restaurant Association of India seeks rental waiver of malls

Key Take Away

The National Restaurant Association of India (NRAI) has expressed two concerns to mall owners — waiver of charges of rentals and a revised revenue-sharing model, and sought  their urgent intervention to help the beleaguered sector which is staring at closure due to the COVID-19  pandemic

Considering that the proportion of fixed operating expenses in our business is very high, this may lead to
massive operating losses 

For More Information

www.newindianexpress.com/business/2020/may/28/nrai-seeks-rental-waiver-of-malls-2149020.html

30,000 weddings cancelled in Gujarat amid COVID-19 pandemic

Key Take Away

March and April are considered the peak season when the maximum number of weddings take place in the state but due to the COVID-19 pandemic and subsequent lockdown has severely hit the wedding industry

At least 30,000 weddings planned across the state have been called off or postponed in the last two months People have been canceling their bookings and are waiting for the next auspicious season in December and January.

Some couples even opted for court marriages and planned to organize a proper wedding ceremony afterward

For More Information

www.newindianexpress.com/nation/2020/may/27/30000-weddings-cancelled-in-gujarat-amid-covid-19-pandemic-2148686.html

Drafted As Quarantine Centres, Punjab Hotels Stare At Losses, "Stigma"

Key Take Away

Hoteliers demand that the state and central governments announce a special economic package to help them tide over this crisis

The government decided to offer their hotels as quarantine centers to Non-Resident Indian (NRI) evacuees has their left hotel owners in Punjab fighting a dual battle-of financial losses and the stigma of having operated as a coronavirus quarantine center.

For More Information

www.ndtv.com/video/news/news/drafted-as-quarantine-centres-punjab-hotels-stare-at-losses-stigma-549705www.ndtv.com/india-news/coronavirus-lockdown-punjab-hotels-turned-quarantine-centres-fight-losses-stigma-2234313

Himachal to open its doors for Tourism in Winter

Key Take Away

Himachal to open its doors for tourism in winter probably says, CM Jairam Thakur. It is notable that in this time of COVID -19 pandemic tourism industry is going through a huge loss. There is no change of opening the tourist place in the summer season

There is approx 3084 hotel n 1654 homestay, likewise, there are 44552 rooms available that are still under lock. According to people related to tourism, the state is bearing more than approx 7 crores of loss

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532 flights operated on Day 1, over 39,000 people travelled: Puri

Key Take Away

The airlines resumed operations after a two-month nationwide lockdown was imposed to contain the spread of the virus. The airlines, which were allowed to operate one-third of their pre-lockdown domestic services

Civil Aviation Minister Hardeep Singh Puri tweeted that 532 domestic flights operated on Monday and 39,231 passengers traveled 

States like Maharashtra, West Bengal, and Tamil Nadu, which are home to some of the busiest airports in the country, were reluctant to allow domestic flight services from their airports, citing swelling Covid-19 cases there

For More Information:

https://www.livemint.com/

Lockdown: 40% restaurants in UP likely to close by year end

Key Take Away

The restaurant business in Uttar Pradesh incurred a loss of Rs 100 crore on a daily basis during the first three phases of nationwide lockdown - between March 25 and May 17.Even as the government has now allowed the restaurants to deliver food online.

By the current trend, 40 per cent of the restaurants are likely to wind up operations by year-end.

For More Information

www.indiatoday.in/business/story/lockdown-40-restaurants-in-up-likely-to-close-by-year-end-1680905-2020-05-22?utm_source=Mailer&utm_medium=ET_batch&utm_campaign=ethospitality_news_2020-05-23&dt=2020-05-23

Get Ready to Experience “Island Homes” in Maldives Post Pandemic

The COVID-19 pandemic has caused disruptions in almost every human activity on the planet. At the moment travelling anywhere is out of the question for most, even though some countries are cautiously opening their borders

Maldives is ready to offer a fresh concept that you really should experience: Island Homes. The thought of being cloistered in a luxurious home with every comfort available while away from home is definitely something many travelers around the world are yearning to experience for themselves once Maldives is open for business post pandemic.

Most Island Homes are located in a contained private area providing the ultimate in privacy with many of the luxuries you’d usually expect to find at a Maldivian resort.

One of the first such properties to pop up in Maldives is the luxurious Veli Vilaa located in Dhiffushi Island.The property has such a calming and magical effect on the senses that guests often despair having to leave. One Serbian family, who arrived before the pandemic leading to  lockdowns all over the world, chose to extend their stay to six weeks once they realized they’d rather stay and experience the stress-free island life, cocooned and sheltered from the woes of the world at large for as long as possible, before heading back.

Maldives Conducts Webinars For Indian Market, Commences Campaign With Kayak

Maldives Marketing & Public Relations Corporation (MMPRC) has conducted webinars for travel trade in India and  has commenced a campaign with an Indian travel agency Kayak from today till 22nd May 2020.In an effort to inspire travelers to keep dreaming about the destination.

India is one of the key source markets likely to be amongst the top post-pandemic tourists to the Maldives when traveling resumes once again. In January 2020, there were 13,846 tourist arrivals from this market which was a 19% increase when compared to the same period from last year.

These sessions were held to train potential travel agencies and tour operators to yield the maximum business and achieve a greater reach in the market. The webinars by MMPRC also aim to lead engagement in promoting the Maldives and answer destination FAQs over the course of the lockdown.

Till date, these webinars have reached over 302 pax from tour operators and travel agents in India such as Ease My Trip, SOTC Travel Ltd, Travel Triangle and Vacations Exotica to name a few.

The joint campaign with Kayak will have ads depicting ‘Visit Maldives…later’ displayed throughout the website. The messaging in the campaign is intended to encourage visitors to travel to the Maldives once the pandemic has been overcome.

Zomato to lay off 13% workforce

Online food-delivery platform Zomato on Friday said it will reduce its workforce by 13%, while also implementing a temporary pay cut of up to 50% for remaining employees as nationwide lockdown to prevent spread of COVID-19 severely affected its business.

In an email to employees, Zomato Founder & CEO Deepinder Goyal said that the workers affected by the layoffs will continue to get half of their salaries, in addition to health insurance and outplacement support, for the next six months or till they find another job, whichever is earlier

The company is also looking at making “partial or full work from home” a permanent feature to reduce real estate costs.

“Our business has been severely affected by the COVID lockdowns. A large number of restaurants have already shut down permanently, and we know that this is just the tip of the iceberg,” Mr Goyal said, adding that he expects the number of restaurants to shrink by 25-40% over the next 6-12 months.

Many people have volunteered for a 100% pay cut for at least 6 months, the company remains short of its salary reduction target.

Lower cuts are being proposed for people with lower salaries, and higher cuts (up to 50%) for people with higher salaries.This temporary reduction in pay will also be eligible for 2x ESOP grants.

 All employees who no longer have any work at Zomato, will continue to be “with us at 50% salary for the next 6 months. During this time, outside of the handover period of 1-2 weeks, we expect these folks to spend 100% of their time and energy towards looking for jobs outside of Zomato.”

Some impacted employees who are not directly on Zomato’s payroll, will get two months of severance 

“Each person leaving us will also be allowed to keep their Zomato issued laptops and phones (if any),” he said, adding, “Previously allocated ESOPs will continue to vest during this period of six months, as all these people will remain on our payroll with reduced pay.”

The company will continue to hire people in some areas, primarily in product and engineering.

Noting that the company’s highest recurring expense today outside of payroll is real estate, Mr Goyal said Zomato has over 150 offices globally, most of which are spaces for their sales and logistics teams. “Given how well we have been working from home, we have decided to make partial or full work from home a permanent feature of our lives.”

Mumbai: Horrific accident on Marine Drive; 18-year-old son of hotelier killed, friend hurt

 An 18-year-old son of a hotelier was killed and his friend suffered serious injuries when their speeding car collided with a stationary bus at Marine Drive in South Mumbai. The incident took place at 4:30 pm on Tuesday.

The mishap occurred on SN Road near BD Somani Chowk, nearly 100 metres before the Marine Drive flyover as the car was en route to Chowpatty. There is no clarity on why the teenagers had gone to Marine Drive during the lockdown.

Aryaman Nagpal, the son of Rajesh Nagpal (part-owner of Taj Group of Hotels), was rushed to Sir HN Reliance Foundation Hospital and Research Centre where he succumbed to his injuries. Shouryasingh Sharad Jain is undergoing treatment at the Harikishandas Hospital. As per The Times of India, Jain was behind the wheel.

Case on Marriott for running a cafe during lockdown

A case has been registered against the director of JW Marriott on SB Road, following a report published in Mirror about how this plush hotel was running its cafe, violating lockdown norms in the process. The outlet was entertaining customers from different parts of the city, with many people huddling n a table without masks; thus, butchering the prescribed social distancing regulations.

Cops have said that they had received complaints about JW Marriott from two to three people. The Mirror report prompted them to take the issue in all seriousness. The officers checked the CCTV footage of the hotel, wherein different patrons were seen entering and exiting the premises at different patrons were seen entering and exiting the premises at different times. Cops had also found more than five people sitting at a table.

According to the rule, the hotel can serve only 30 customers who have been staying at the facility.Case has been registered against the hotel director.

Verma has been booked in accordance with section 3 of the Epidemic diseases Act, 1897, section 51 (1) (b) of the National Disaster Management Act, 2005, and the Maharashtra COVID-19 Rules, 2020.

A case has also been registered under Indian Panel Code sections 188 (disobedience to order duly promulgated by public servant), 269 (negligent act likely to spread infection of disease dangerous to life) and 270 (malignant act likely to spread infection of disease dangerous to life).