Casimir Platzer: Sustainable development is the goal of hospitality industry throughout the world

CHINA - Recently, Casimir Platzer, the new president of IHRA, visited China and shared his opinions on hospitality and restaurant industry in both China and the world. Casimir Platzer indicated on the whole that, along with the gaining popularity of tourism, hospitality sector was ready to welcome a much brighter future and figures showed as well that the total income of the industry was on the rise year by year.

It is one of IHRA’s main responsibilities to keep listening to and communicating with their members to make sure every issue related to hospitality industry will be focused. Casimir said: “Hot topics recently should be environment protection, sustainable development and the twofold influence on the industry brought by online travel agents”. In terms of the last one, he admitted that although online travel agents were contributing 20% of customers, they took in the meanwhile, the same rate of hotels’ revenue. Therefore, this is a puzzle that not only faced by China, but hospitality businesses throughout the world.

As for China particularly, the new president of IHRA spoke highly of the improvement on design, professionalization and service of Chinese hospitality industry during the eight years since he came to the country last time. However, there are currently several problems Chinese hotels are facing such as the governments’ cutting expense, cost raising and decline of customers. Casimir indicated that labour force, food and energy were three main costs of the industry with no exception, it was hard indeed to save cost while maintain brand image. Nonetheless, labour cost would be the easiest one to control, which required high proficiency and quality of the employees. He said: “China is a country with a high developing pace and a low consuming rate. Chinese people’s long existing habits to save their money in banks have a significant impact on hospitality industry, result from which, stimulating domestic consumption is quite crucial for the sector.”

When talking about the trend on investing in upscale hotels, Casimir predicted that “Chinese market will see an increase in middle-scale hotels in the coming 3-5 years” and the reason of this statement is the fact that the group of middle class is keeping growing in China.

Besides, Casimir also gave some suggestions, “Salary rate in hospitality industry should be equal to that of others” which he considered “is the precondition of a healthy industry”. Apart from that, specialized training programs and working conditions should be provided for the young to promote themselves. In addition, he advised that Chinese government loose its visa policies to make it more convenient for foreigners visiting China, which in turn, would bring sources to both tourism and hospitality sectors, thus achieve sustainable improvement.

Sourced: TravelDailyNews