Swine flu eats up restaurant profits

Hospitality industry has taken a huge setback, thanks to the pandemic

Swine flu eats up restaurant profits

Hospitality industry has taken a huge setback, thanks to the pandemic

State Health Minister Rajendra Shingne's appeal to people to avoid crowded places like cinema halls, shopping complexes and malls has the hospitality industry in a poor state.

Hoteliers have observed a dip in business after four people across the country died due to the highly contagious swine flu.

Several hotels have also complained that rooms that had been booked are being cancelled at a fast pace," said S P Jain, president of Hotel and Restaurant Association-Western India.

According to Rishi Puri, general manager of Ramada Powai, the flow of foreigners in the city has been affected.
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"We are anticipating a further dip in foreigners coming to the country. The weekend crowd has also dipped," he said.

Not bad yet

Retailers and pub owners, however, are yet to face the pinch.

"We are taking all hygiene measures, which includes using germicides and best quality soaps to prevent any such infections," said Vinay Menon, centre director, High Street Phoenix Mill, Lower Parel. Menon also said that swine flu has had no adverse effect on business.

Added Shailesh Agarwal, owner of Ontoes Pub, Juhu, "People may stop eating food outside to avoid getting in contact with others, but they always want to party. But things could go bad because if people come in wearing masks, how will they be able drink?"

Dilip Joshi, director ofu00a0 Poison nightclub in Bandra and Bling in Andheri, echoed Agarwal's sentiments. "Things are fine now, but our business could suffer soon," he said.

Multiplexes opt for wait-and-watch policy

Multiplex owners too are worried over the increase in swine flu cases.
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"Our HR department will meet some doctors today and decide on the precautionary measures we need to take," said Devang Sampat, vice-president, marketing and programming, Cinemax India Ltd.

Others like Tushar Dingra, COO of Adlabs Cinemas, have already made masks compulsory at their Pune multiplex.

"But Mumbai multiplexes haven't faced such an alarming situation yet. We will opt for a wait-and-watch policy," he said.

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