M|A|R|K|E|T INTERVIEW
'The new stringent Food and Safety Standards Act to be implemented from 2014 is a call to action for the hotel industry in India' In an exclusive interview, Steve Tate,chairman, Check Safety First UK, tells why hotels in India need to maintain hygiene standards on their premises now more than ever. By Steena Joy How important is the role of hygiene in the hospitality industry? Hygiene is one of the most mandatory aspects to ensure quality in the hospitality industry. In the absence of a good hygiene system, some of the following possibilities may arise:● Bad publicity and the loss of reputation ● Legal action taken by the customer(s) ● Closure of the premises by the Health Authorities ● Loss of jobs for staff members Steve Tate
Is hygiene consultancy popular in international hotel companies? What is the scene in India? Hygiene consultancy is extremely popular in international hotel companies as many countries have strict health and safety laws that make it mandatory for hotels to abide by the rules, and maintain good hygiene levels. The tourism industry in India is booming, with people from home and abroad exploring more of the country than ever before. There is vast growth in international hotels operating in India and as a result of this standards are going to be driven up. Demanding temperatures mean food spoilage and contamination are still major challenges for many hotels in India. The new stringent Food and Safety Standards Act to be implemented from 2014 is a call to action for the hotel industry in India to ensure they are doing everything they can to remain compliant. We have had a very positive response from the international and Indian branded hotels and boutique properties that are looking at maintaining high standards of hygiene and safety at their premises. Tell us about your E-Cristal food safety risk management programme? How does it work? The E-Cristal risk management system is an interactive tool that allows hotel managers and group head office to monitor risk compliance in real time. Available in
14
EXPRESS HOSPITALITY
ten different languages, there is a group function which means that the system works especially well for hotel groups who want to ensure that the same standards are operating in all hotels. The system works on a traffic lights basis- red, amber and green. Group managers can simply enter the system daily and can identify where the standards may be at risk by a simple click, with feedback available 24 hours a day. Groups using the system include the Hilton, IHG, Eurostars, Hyatt, Radisson Hotels and Resorts, Sheraton, the Corinthia and many more. Due diligence records are essential for defending yourself against claims and the E-Cristal system does this perfectly. The system covers all areas of environmental risk and guest safety within the hotel environment. Each risk is managed in a modular format and includes: FoodCheck, RoomCheck, AquaCheck, PoolCheck, FireCheck, SafetyCheck, EcoCheck, Crisis Check, QualityCheck and TourCheck. How will E-Cristal benefit Indian hotels? Check Safety First is the only company offering consultancy for all aspects of health and safety in the hospitality industry in India. While there are many certification and auditing companies, none of them offer the consultancy services as thoroughly or as independently as Check Safety First. Moreover none of them have a software application like the E-Cristal which helps to monitor the risks on a real time basis. We bring them our experience of having worked in health and safety for the last 20 years, in 41 countries and having dealt with more than 1800 hotels. The benefits of a good risk management system include internal efficiency, external marketing, Business Intelligence, more return bookings, energy savings, www.expresshospitality.com
more tour operators, reduction in waste, staff retention, benchmarking, reduced insurance risk, more sales and better rates. Our main purpose is not merely providing the certification, but training the staff is a key area that we emphasis on. In 2012, our company successfully trained 29,853 food handlers. Hotel Clarks Shiraz Agra will be the first to be certified by Check Safety First. Your comments on the hotel and what parameters it had to meet to receive the certification? Hotel Clarks Shiraz Agra is the first hotel in India to achieve exemplary health and safety standards by qualifying for the Check Safety First website. Showing their commitment to health and safety, the staff reached this high standard within the short space of three months. Using Check Safety First’s risk management system E-Cristal, the Clarks Shiraz Agra had to have consistently high scores to qualify for the site, which were 65 per cent or more for three consecutive monthly audits. By passing the E-Cristal standards of hygiene, Hotel Clarks Shiraz has shown its commitment to keeping up with the latest legislation, improving their food and water hygiene standards to Check Safety First’s exceptional level. The certification was awarded to them in March 2013. Which are the other hotels in India which are in the process of being certified? We expect two or three other properties to get the certification in the coming few months. These include a resort property in Ranthambore and Bharatpur. Which cruises companies have opted for the certification? More than 41 international cruises are currently certified by Check Safety First, including the Oberoi Zahra luxury Nile cruiser.
Are the parameters different for cruise line vis a vis hotels? Each property whether a hotel or a cruise is subjected to over 250 control points, by a professional auditor on site, which must be answered positively. The core area for inspecting on how the food is being handled remains the same for both cruises and hotels. The audit list for inspecting cruises is more specific and customised to their requirement. What are your comments on the hygiene and food safety challenges in the restaurant sector in the country? There are anywhere between 50-60 lakh eateries in the country. Food safety has been a perennial challenge in India with frequent cases of food adulteration and food poisoning. Many players in the business find it difficult to comply with the new norms. We provide specialised solutions to restaurants and focus on training of the staff, as the level of awareness in majority of the restaurants to maintain hygiene is low. While our system is perfect for stand-alone restaurants that do not have resources for having an inhouse hygiene manager, it is also perfect for restaurant chains looking at providing consistent hygiene standards at all their outlets. How do you plan to spread awareness about your product in the India market? Our strategy is to approach the clients in the hospitality industry with a sample audit and show them what we have to offer in terms of improvements on these grounds, and the support we offer them on a daily basis. To spread awareness about our services in the industry, our team is participating at the HISCA conference in Mumbai. We are also organising a presentation in Delhi in April, and the event is going to be attended by industry experts, hotel and restaurant owners, GMs, executive chefs and heads of sales of the major hotel chains in India. April 1-15, 2013