Ahar

Twenty-eighth AGM of AHAR encourages innovation in hospitality

EH STAFF - Mumbai

The 28th Annual General Body Meeting of Indian Hotel & Restaurant Association - the largest Association of Hotel & Restaurant Owners, was recently held in the city. Inaugurated by president, Chandrahas K Shetty, the 'Restaurant Business' exhibition of AHAR comprised more than 40 stalls showcasing commercial equipment, refrigerators, food service equipment, table and glassware, cash registers, resaturant softwares, restaurant furnitures, commercial cooking gas, cooking oil, water treatment and energy-saving solutions, hygiene and sanitation, beverage, financial institutions, food ingredients, tandoors, commercial dish water and real estate. In addition to this, there were three seminars addressed by Nitin Mukaddam on 'Branding', Kurien Pothen of Grasim industry on 'Delighting the customer the Aditya Birla way' and 'Automation of billing' by R V Ramprasd of Epson India.

The one-day event, began with prayer by Shekhar Shetty and lighting of the lamps by advisors Datta Kadam, Santosh Shetty, Vasant Shetty, vice president, Hon Gen Secretary, Santosh Shetty and President, Chandrahas K Shetty. On the occasion, an in-house magazine was also released and 19 senior hoteliers were felicitated for their contribution to the hotel industry with momentoes,shawls and bouquets. Four ex-office members were also honoured for their contribution to AHAR.

Speaking on the occasion Chandrahas K Shetty said that the membership of AHAR had increased multifold. "AHAR is putting in efforts to fight the injustice meted to the hotel industry by various statutory authorities. AHAR is still fighting against the VAT imposition at 12.5 per cent, as compared to other neighbouring states which have 4 per cent VAT; outdated excise and police rules and inobitent increase in trade refusal charges of MCGM. AHAR alongwith Cityspace, an NGO, is fighting against non-implementation of the Supreme Court order of not allowing cooking in open space as well as the State Governement's ban of dance bars as enforced by the Supreme Court. AHAR, which had tied up with a number of liquor companies, has been successful in securing the same trade discount given to wine shops to the permit rooms.

The president also advised the members to work within the limit of the law and be innovative in their business plans so as to be in-sync with the ever-changing hotel scenerio and thereby be prepared for any future challenge.

The meeting was concluded with vote of thanks by Hon Gen Secretary, Santosh R Shetty.