Tag Archives: HRANI

Hospitality veteran and current Managing Director of Shervani Hotels, Mr. S.M. Shervani has announced his decision to step down from the managing committee of the Hotel and Restaurant Association of Northern India . HRANI is the biggest association in Northern India, representing hotels, restaurants, and associates across nine states. It aims to foster a growth-oriented environment for the sector to tap into emerging opportunities and drive growth. The announcement comes after his outstanding 35-year tenure with the association, which was established by the legendary hotelier, late MS Oberoi. Mr. Shervani, who has also served as the President of the Federation of Hotel and Restaurant Associations of India , expressed his gratitude for the opportunity to contribute to the association, reflecting on his long and fulfilling career. Mr. S.M. Shervani added, “It has been a pleasure to serve this esteemed association for so many years. I was fortunate to become its president and subsequently the president of FHRAI. Also, being a founder member of the Federation of Associations in Indian Tourism & Hospitality  has been a remarkable milestone in my career.” He also underlined the significance of a retirement age for association members to encourage the involvement of younger generations. Mr. Shervani added, “Associations should have a retirement age to allow the young to take charge, ensuring smooth transitions and curtailing the unfortunate politics that can sometimes arise.” In his emotional farewell message, he extended his warm wishes to HRANI and FHRAI for the road ahead. He also remembered his colleagues including the late Mr. Rajinder Kumar, the late Mr. Lamba, the late Mr. Sushil Gupta  as well as Mr. B.K. Gupta, Mr. Arun Khanna, Mr. Lalit Narula, and Mr. Suresh …

The newly introduced composite fee structure in the excise policy of Delhi highlights that for hotels up to three and four-star hotels, it is INR 15 lakh per F&B outlet. While the new L-16 licence (5star and above) is composite license of INR 1 crore which means a hotel with two outlets and another one having six outlets are being charged the same fees under composite scheme.

The Federation of Hotels & Restaurants Association of India (FHRAI), along with its regional associations, met four representatives from MakeMyTrip to discuss reduction of the commission charged by the OTAs to 15-18 per cent. The meeting was attended by Surendra Jaiswal, President, HRANI and Vice President, FHRAI, along with Garish Oberoi, Immediate Past President, FHRAI and Treasurer, HRANI. Also present at the meeting were Gurbaxish Singh Kohli, President, HRAWI, along with some of the Executive Committee members. Another points discussed in the meeting include ceasing discretionary positioning and self-rating by properties since they have no authority to rate hotels or mention star ratings based on reviews; no predatory pricing and no further discount on rooms without consent of hotels. Apart from it, the association wants that discounting on rooms and its display will be done after the express consent of the hotel and not via the extranet. Several other points raised in the meeting included the service charge on hotel room booking to be rephrased and given a different nomenclature to avoid taxation issues for the hotel, the burden of the loyalty points and discounts passed to their guests to be borne by them from the commission and not to be passed to hotels, a full break-up of pricing in case rate is displayed with full board, commission to be levied on room only and the component of food should not attract any commission, PLBs only with express agreement with hotels not blanket, PLB taxation to be borne by MMT and not the hotel and illegal hotels apartments, B&B to be immediately delisted from the portals — only legal  properties to be listed.

The Hotels and Restaurants Association of North India (HRANI) has said that the shortage of water in Shimla is back to normal. Adequate arrangements have been made by the state government and water supply is being ensured to hotels in order to facilitate tourists. Sanjay Sood, President, HRANI & EC Member, FHRAI said, “the inflow of tourist that took a hit due to water shortage in Shimla the capital city of Himachal Pradesh is slowly getting back to normal and but now things are in better shape. There should not be any apprehensions in visiting the city as guest service is our prime concern. Beautiful weather & mesmerising hills await to welcome you”. “The hotel industry is grateful to Jairam Thakur, Honourable Chief Minister and Acting Chief Justice Shri Sanjay Karol for their intervention in resolving the issue and ensuring proper water supply. HRANI requests the media to highlight the normalcy in water supply through its reports so that tourism re-gains momentum in the state” he further continued. “As responsible citizens, let us pledge to save and conserve natural resources. Reduce – Recycle and Reuse should be the mantra, we all should adopt,”he said.

On hospitality failing to find a mention in Union Budget, Rajindera Kumar, EC Member-FHRAI, Former President FHRAI & HRANI, Working Director, Vivanta by Taj Ambassador, says, “The Budget spoke about every other sector except tourism which I feel is very upsetting as the matter of the fact is that anyone who comes to India or goes out from India, spends their maximum time under the ambit of tourism. The hotel industry too is very disappointed with this Union Budget. I have to say that running a hotel in not a joy anymore in today’s time.” Kumar raises some valid questions on FDI. “In case of FDI when the government can offer a single window clearance then why can’t the same be done for the hospitality industry? We can just hope to be an active part of the five Ts, with tourism being one of them under this government,” he asks.

Hotel and Restaurant Association of India (HRANI) has urged the government to classify tourism and hospitality businesses (hotels & resorts, tour operators, travel agents, tourism transport operators, convention centres, destination/ amusement/entertainment infrastructure creation companies) in the lower slab at 5 per cent. They have also asked the government to ensure zero per cent rating for foreign exchange earning tourism, travel & hospitality businesses. A meeting of HRANI Managing Committee was held at Wildflower Hall in Shimla on November 8, 2016, followed by a press meet. A representation on the same was submitted to Shrikant Baldi (IAS) Addl. Chief Secy. (Finance, Planning, Economics & Statistics, Twenty Point Programme). To discuss the same in details Sanjay Sood, President, HRANI and CEO, the Devicos, Shimla; Surendra Jaiswal, Hony Secretary and Garish Oberoi, Treasurer, HRANI and MC members of HRANI met V.C. Pharka, IAS Chief Secretary Tourism & Civil Aviation, Tribal Development, Information & Public Relations. The issues concerning the hospitality fraternity of H.P. were submitted to him and Hon’ble Minister of forest including other concerned officials of Himachal Government. During the briefing, Jaiswal emphasised that in order to boost inbound or outbound tourism, GST should be brought at lowest slab of 5% for hospitality and tourism making India a competitive tourist destination. Oberoi, Treasurer, HRANI, said that GST at lowest slab will attract more investment in the country and will also be conducive to business and growth in the sector.

The Delhi Government is going to rationalise taxes in the tourism sector and major announcement regarding this can be expected in the upcoming Delhi Budget 2016-17, said Kapil Mishra, Delhi Tourism Minister. He also revealed that the Government is working on a major Delhi Festival, a 15 day long cultural event in Delhi to be held in the month of November on the lines of Dubai Festival. The Delhi Government will start major destination branding activity this year as well. “We have completely changed our event organising policy and are also planning 10 smart streets which will be made into tourist hubs in the city. We are revamping all monuments. This year a massive and aggressive Delhi branding will be launched. We are working on rationalising the taxes and this budget will bring good news for the industry,”  he said while addressing the HRANI Conclave on February 27, 2016 at Le Meridien, New Delhi. The HRANI Conclave addressed issues of hoteliers and restaurateurs of Delhi and put across suggestions to the Delhi Tourism Minister. Luv Malhotra, President, HRANI, said, “There are three primary issues which we are addressing with the Tourism Minister at an open forum. The Luxury tax levied is a major issue. The exorbitant charges on environment tax which we have to pay as restaurateurs and hoteliers for which discussions are on in the court and ease of doing business are other issues.” Malhotra mentioned that as of present the industry requires 40 odd  licences, certifications and clearances to function which are only 5 when compared to countries like China and Malaysia. The Minister further added that the Government is keen to work closely with the Tourism and Hospitality industry to …

The Hotel & Restaurant Association of Northern India (HRANI) is organising a Conclave on February 27, 2016 at Le Meridien, New Delhi. The theme of the conclave is “Hospitality & Tourism- Gateway to Growth”.  The HRANI Conclave will be a one-day event that aims to highlight the issues and aspirations of tourism and hospitality sector. This conclave will be a quarterly feature for the association and will be conducted in its nine member states on a rotational basis. Delhi Tourism will also launch ‘Brand Delhi’ Campaign in 2016 with a vision of encouraging tourism and increasing tourists inflow in the state. With HRANI shared aspiration of making Delhi, a top destination of choice, for both foreign and domestic tourists, the organisation is privileged to announce endorsement of Delhi Tourism Ministry towards the HRANI Conclave. A delegation led by Luv Malhotra, President, HRANI; Garish Oberoi, Hony. Secretary, HRANI; Bharat Aggarwal, Treasurer, HRANI; and Renu Thapliyal, Secretary General, HRANI, met Kapil Mishra, Minister of Tourism, Govt. of NCT of Delhi, to discuss about jointly organising a tourism and hospitality Conclave in the capital.