Newstrack

Indian hotels witness lower employee-room ratio

Sanjeev Bhar - New Delhi

The global economic slowdown is forcing hotels in India to lower their employee-room ratio to be at par with international standards. George Abraham, CEO of Tristar Hotels says, "We want to reduce our employee to room ratio to less than one. For the first Svelte Personal Suites property in the capital, the ratio has been kept at 1.2 to understand the dynamics of its operation. We will eventually look at reducing this for other upcoming properties under the Tristar brand."

On the other hand, Saurabh Rai Bhatnagar, director (Global Sales & Development), India for Preferred Hotel Group, is of the opinion that employee to room ratio is becoming a crucial parameter for a hotel's success. "Keeping it on par with international standards would mean lowering it to 0.70 - 0.85. At present, most city hotels are operating at above one and in some cases, close to three, which works out to be expensive," he says.

Lemuel Herbert, associate VP (Education & Organisational Development), Apeejay Surrendra Park Hotels, feels, "There are a number of factors forcing Indian hotels to go for low ratios. India earlier offered cheap manpower. But these days professionalism is a priority and is respected everywhere. Payroll has a direct impact on cost and it is therefore vital to keep the ratio in check." He informs that his hotel always tries to keep the ratio below two.

Meanwhile, resorts are forced to maintain higher ratios. Explains Mridula Tangirala, director (Operations) at Taj Safaris, "It is true that city business hotels are constantly looking at reducing employee to room ratio. But in lodges like Taj Safaris where landscape and maintaining the property is important, the ratio goes as high as three or four."