The Hindu Business Line : SIHRA plans to set up catering college

South India Hotels and Restaurants Association (SIHRA) has plans to set up a catering college "of international standards" and has approached the State Government for land, Mr M.P. Purushothtaman, President, SIHRA told reporters after the 55th Annual General Meeting of SIHRA.

Mr Purushothtaman said that SIHRA has appealed to the Tamil Nadu Government to reduce the 12 per cent luxury tax on the published rate and bring it down to 10 per cent on the actual tariff charged to the customers. The association has also asked the Government to consider relaxing bar timings in the State as most of the international flights come in late and guests checking in late might need a drink.

Mr T. Nataraajan, Honorary Secretary of the SIHRA, said that the hospitality industry in the southern region has been buoyant.

Hotels have been registering about 75 to 80 per cent occupancy even during the traditional off-season, when occupancies usually hovered around 40 per cent.

The growth of IT, ITES, automotive, medical tourism and MICE (meetings, incentives, conferences and exhibitions) has generated the demand for more hotel rooms. Quoting industry surveys, Mr Nataraajan said that there was a shortfall of about 4,000 quality rooms in Chennai.

Mr Purushothtaman was re-elected President of the SIHRA for another term. The association has also elected four vice presidents — Mr Shankar Menon , Mr Syama Raju , Mr Rajiv Narain and Mr Suresh M. Pillai.

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