HCIMA national conference in July

Ramani Kangaraarachchi

CONFERENCE: The Sri Lanka Chapter of HCIMA will hold its National Conference on July 17 and 18, 2006 at the Trans Asia Hotel, Colombo.

Chairman HCIMA Anura Lokuhettige in Colombo said that this year's conference becomes significant in the context of dilemma faced by the industry due to the exodus of trained professionals in search of lucrative opportunities overseas,resulting in a dearth of competent people to manage the tourism industry and to steer the industry to a position of strong contention in the global arena.

The industry itself has further affected by the lack of attraction to encourage young people to join various hotel schools and training establishments to fill in the voids created in the industry.

The conference was not held last year in the aftermath of Tsunami, as most professionals in the industry were busy getting their business back in order.

Lokuhetti said that bearing its mission to promote the highest professional standards of management and education in the hospitality industry the HCIMA has selected the theme"International trends and challenges to the hospitality industry" for the conference.

A number of foreign participants are expected while a top policy maker would be the chief guest.

HCIMA was formed in 1971 in the UK by amalgamation of the hotel and Catering Institute and the International Management Association.

Today the association has 27 branches in UK and 17 international groups. The Sri Lanka chapter has 130 members.