HOTELS


Zero hours contracts offer felxibility


UFI IBRAHIM is chief executive of the British Hospitality Association


GOCO Hospitality joins forces with Horwath


Spa consulting and management com- pany GOCO Hospitality has joined with global hospitality consulting brand Horwath HTL. With offices based in Bangkok, Berlin


and soon Shanghai, GOCO’s work cov- ers master planning, concept and brand development, and operations. Going forward, a new entity, operat-


T


he topic of zero hours contracts has been dominating the head- lines over the past few months, generating considerable contro-


versy and debate up and down the country. The contracts are, claims Business


Secretary Vince Cable, open to exploita- tion, while leisure and hospitality industry leaders, including the BHA, have sug- gested there is a strong business case for keeping the agreements, which can be mutually beneficial for both employers and employees. Te leisure and hospitality industry is, by


its very nature, subject to flux and change, and is continually responding to fluctua- tions from wide-ranging sources including the weather, seasonal tourism, weddings, big events and so forth. How this debate will evolve is subject to interpretation. However, some facts remain constant


and very clear-cut. As an industry, lei- sure and hospitality is at the heart of UK economic growth, generating more than 150,000 new jobs between 2010 and 2012. Tat’s a third of the total new jobs in the


UK. Tis has, in part, been due to the avail- ability of a flexible labour market. One of the main sources of employment for our industry has been young people, many making the transition from education to employment, for whom the flexibility of leisure and tourism work has been a positive experience. With this in mind, surely the key focus


should be on how our industry can attract young talent and continue to create jobs. With almost one million young people in the UK out of work, the benefits of cre- ating opportunities are obvious, not least because it is vital for our next generation to have access to fulfilling and varied careers. To support this vision, the BHA has part-


nered with Barclays to support the industry body’s goal of creating 60,000 new jobs in the sector by 2015. As an industry, our priority should be to


provide good working conditions, quality training opportunities and career pro- gression and we shouldn’t let the need for variable contracts detract from this.


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ing under the Horwath HTL – Health and Wellness specialty designation, will provide market research and feasibility studies, concept development services and executive recruitment for resort and stand-alone spa and wellness facilities. GOCO’s role will focus on devel-


Ingo Schweder is the current CEO of GOCO Hospitality


opment and operations providing design, technical, pre-opening, training and management services. CEO of GOCO Ingo Schweder said:


“Horwath HTL have fantastic experts all over the globe and share our view of the industry.


“We truly believe the best way to be suc-


cessful in this business is by developing lasting relationships, and we know that with Horwath HTL, we are part of a group that shares this approach.” Details: http://lei.sr?a=c3w4f


Restaurants and hotels fail the blind


Restaurants, public trans- port and leisure facilities are illegally turning away blind people as they mistakenly try to prevent those with guide dogs from using their ser- vices, according to a report by the charity Guide Dogs. Te study shows that there


has been a lack of aware- ness of legislation which was passed three years ago in an attempt to ensure those who suffer from disabilities receive the same access to services as those who are not impaired. It found that complaints have risen by more


Blind people are being turned away because of their guide dogs


than a third since last year, with the largest number of reported incidents involving eat- eries – with restaurants being labelled as the worst offenders – while public transport came in as the second worst, taking complaints from more than 400 people. Te Disability Discrimination Act (DDA)


states that business owners must make “rea- sonable adjustments” to make their services accessible to teh disabled or impaired. “More awareness is needed to avoid blind


and partially sighted people having to cope with this stress and discrimination in their daily lives,” said Guide Dogs’ chief executive, Richard Leaman. Details: http://lei.sr?a=Q5z5D


Social media revolutionising hotels and hospitality


Social media has been a reccuring theme in recent hotel developments with both Twitter and Instagram-themed hotels launching. A five-storey boutique hotel in Sydney,


Australia, themed around Instagram, offers travellers dedicated spaces to take photos, as


Read Leisure Opportunities online: www.leisureopportunities.co.uk/digital


well as the opportunity to save money with Instagram-related incentives and competitions. Sol Wave House Hotel, in Magaluf, uses a


virtual community called #SocialWave, where Twitter Concierges meet guest requests via the social network. Details: http://lei.sr?a=X8e5E


Twitter: @leisureopps © CYBERTREK 2013


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