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| Hospitality Today | Feb / Mar 14
Challenge and question Everything ! What are the good things we do that we must keep doing ? What are the bad things we do that we must stop doing ? What things do we do only occasionally that we should do consistently ? What things don ’ t we do that we should start doing ?
Grout concluded by asking delegates to ask themselves : “ What is your personal Leadership Brand ?” We all have one – even if we don ’ t want to . Every thing you do affects how others perceive your personal brand . Grout closed by quoting the motto of Forensic Science : “ every touch leaves a trace ”.
Hospitality & Government
Martin Couchman OBE , BHA Deputy Chief Executive , gave a rundown of news on various current regulatory issues , including the recent OFT ruling on OTA commissions ( see page 41 ), the welcome – if limited – easing of the UK Visa system for Chinese tourists , the lobbying by the BHA and others for the new Package Travel Directive to make travel an essential part of a package ( so hotels do not have to be bonded , for instance , if they include a green fee with a booking ).
The Food Information Regulation will require food operators to have allergen information on all their food available on request – which will require training .
The European Commission wants mandatory fees to be charged for food inspections .
There will be shared parental leave from April 2015 .
On the industry ’ s lobbying for a reduction in VAT on accommodation and attractions to 5 %, Couchman said the Prime Minister had conceded that we “ make a very good argument ”.
Peter Hancock , Chief Executive , Pride of Britain Hotels
Figures run through the Treasury ’ s own model show that annual GDP would be boosted by £ 4 billion , 80,000 jobs created over 2-3 years , and that the Treasury would profit by £ 2.6 billion in tax revenues over 10 years – BUT the killer may be that the Treasury would lose £ 650m in year one .
On a more practical note , Couchman suggested that hoteliers consider offering a Chinese breakfast , and employing Mandarin speakers , to help them win their share of a fast-growing emerging market .
Ufi Ibrahim thanked Couchman , and told delegates that the industry was getting its messages over to the Government , but that “ the Labour Party needs a hard push on tourism ”. She appealed to delegates to use any connections they had to persuade the parties ( especially Labour ) of the viral importance of our industry .
Are Hotels Commodities ? The changing dynamics of distribution
This was a panel debate , moderated by Russell Kett , Chairman , HVS London .
The panel was : David Taylor , Sales Director , Grass Roots HBI ; Imogen Furness , Head of Supply Chain , Morgan Stanley ; Stuart Johnson , General Manager , Brown ’ s Hotel ; and Mark Lewis , Managing Director , Hotel Rez .
Next , Jonathan Raggett , Master Innholders Vice Chairman ( and MD of Red Carnation Hotels ) gave a presentation on the Master Innholder Scholarships : “ growing our future industry leaders ”.