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| Saturday, 13 November 2004 |
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Ceylon Hotels Corporation ...the need to lead by Prasad Abu Bakr
The country's vital role that's played as a travel destination to many holiday makers from all parts of the world annually and the need for a bureau that can address the many needs of such travellers brought to the fore the Ceylon Hotels Corporation during the initial stages of the tourism boom. A time it played a more vibrant role in fostering tourism than it did at present. At one time it was the market leader playing a pivotal role in tourism and gained recognition for its vast contribution made towards the uplift of the local travel trade, but as in many things that has government sponsorship the Ceylon Hotels Corporation too had to face the consequences of political interferences in the past which is not showing too well in its overall operations at present. As the new Chairman at the helm of things Chandra Mohotti emphasises on the many plans that he has up his sleeve to re-dress the vast empire that is the Ceylon Hotels Corporation which has within its cluster 24 properties, both in the form of rest houses and a few hotels that are spread across the country servicing holiday makers both local and foreigners. Mohotti who is no new name to the vast membership of the hospitality industry has been considered the most suitable person to bear the responsibility of re-tracking the Corporation ahead in the correct path considering its patchy past and the many obstacles it is facing, which has resulted in keeping its properties from rising to recognisable positions in the industry. Cleanliness, courtesy and food quality are the three major goals that are to be achieved initially, says Mohotti. He says that a programme is currently on to introduce an image in all its properties that can enable them to compete with other properties in the industry that are operated by private enterprise. 'With our new re-structuring plan we will consider improving on our price structure too, taking into consideration the positioning of the property and the facilities that it can dispense to its guests' says Mohotti adding that a maximum amount of streamlining is on the cards in this direction in the near future. The above planning is not done to increase prices in an overall sense rather it will create a new price structure that can be afforded by the domestic traveller as well. The vast number of service staff that are presently attached to the many CHC properties will undergo better training and gain maximum exposure that can widen their knowledge in their related field of work. Taking into consideration the many experiences in the past faced by travellers and the image that some of the properties have lived up to, the new Chairman's observations and his motivation to do something about what he feels can give these many properties an overall improvement which should be viewed with a positive attitude by all. Specially the domestic traveller who faces many obstacles when it comes to finding suitable accommodation when travelling. Most of the guest houses owned by the Urban Development Authority is leased to outsiders, some of them with no experience in such matters at all. What happens mostly in such guest houses are that they are largely boozing locations to the highbrow of the areas. The state of the rooms are anything but pleasant to a holiday maker or otherwise.
The principal intention of the persons who undertake to operate these properties on lease is to gain back his interest and profits as quickly as possible. Rooms and toilets are not properly maintained leading them to get neglected and rundown in a short period of time. Most of the CHC properties which were in similar conditions are already showing signs of major improvement and abiding by the three percepts set in by its chairman. Cleanliness, courtesy and improvement in the quality of the food that are served have stood the CHC in good stead and there are more tourists both local and foreign patronising those hotels and guest houses owned and managed by CHC. Amongst Chairman Mohotti's many plans is the need to upgrade the CHC travel bureau which he says was once the general sales agent to BOAC (which is today known as British Airways) 'but today it is reduced to making reservations to CHC properties alone'. This should be changed, he states adding that the travel bureau should be upgraded to a position where it can enable travellers to make bookings not only for other hotel properties islandwide but even overseas. The bureau which is presently situated on Galle Road in Wellawatte is ideally positioned for this task. As a fully fledged travel agent it should also operate as a ticketing agent for airlines, says Mohotti. Planning of vacations for travellers not only here in Sri Lanka but anywhere in the world should be the agenda of the CHC travel bureau. This he says will not only change the image of the CHC as a mere provider of rooms to tourist but will add to its income which has had a tendency to slacken from time to time. Government officials travelling abroad can use the CHC as their handling agents, he says adding that his plans are not to monopolise but to compete with the private sector. 'We should be able to match the efficiency and standards of the private sector' he says with confidence. The counter at the Katunayake airport has been re-established to serve its purpose, to find accommodation to the visiting guests and arrange transport for them to go from any given point to another. The concept that the bureau is simply a booking agent for rooms only has to be drastically changed, he added. The possibility of CHC owning and operating a city hotel is also seen as a possibility if things work out according to Mohotti's plans. 'It is an important factor for the corporation' says the enthusiastic Chairman 'it can enhance our prospects and also lead to the possibility of opening up for outside catering within the city, this can serve as a massive image booster in the meanwhile'. It is also intended to train Hotel School students in such a property which will make room for even the present staff working at CHC properties to get themselves professionally guided, which most lack as at present. Chandra Mohotti's knowledge stems from his initial training that he received during the earlier stages in Australia under the Intercontinental Hotel chain.
A pioneer in the hospitality industry Mohotti served as the General Manager of the Galadari Hotel for over ten years and was much praised for his tedious effort extended at keeping the hotel from facing a crisis at the time when the international Mariott chain withdrew from playing the role of its manager leaving the Galadari Hotel in the most vulnerable position ever since its inception. It was an admirable role that he also played during the time that the hotel was almost reduced to rubble owing to a terrorist bombing that it was hit by, leaving it almost totally crippled for over two years. Taking in the suggestions and plans that the Chairman has for his corporation it is encouraging to note that at last the property has got at its helm a knowledgable and a thorough perfectionist of the hospitality industry to overlook its interest. |
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