Archive for June, 2009

PostHeaderIcon Travel India and harness it extra ordinary beauty

There are several attractive destinations in the world where you can spend your holidays with your entire family. If you are finding it difficult to select any particular place then travel to India without any doubts in your

mind. India is a place filled with rich cultures, traditions and heritage. India has so much to offer through its wildlife, lifestyle, village life, modern urban life, scenery and mountain tops.
If you have made up your mind to travel India then taking India travel agent for best India tour packages is the next step. You can find several online companies offering tour and travel services. All you have to do is

access any such company, choose the best travel package and enjoy hassle free smooth journey. Such companies prove to be helpful especially you are not aware of the country. Online companies not only aim to

provide you cheap and best India tour packages but also provide you information about different places so that you can choose the most desired ones.
There are some India travel agents who make arrangements for the business travelers and also there are others who just take care of the requirements of the holiday makers. So choose your travel agents

accordingly so that you don’t face any problem while your stay in another country. Online companies have many travel agents under them which help people regarding travel guide and timetables, sale of in-house

insurance, car rentals and many more. Further they also help in foreign currency exchange.
Online companies usually offer comprehensive list of India packages like Weekend getaways, Nature, Wildlife, Religious, Leisure and Adventures so recognize your interest and choose the package accordingly. For

every mood there are several places to visit. Some of the famous packages include Goa package, Taj Mahal package, Rajasthan tour package, Kerela package, Yoga package, South India package and many

more.
You can include a comfortable accommodation option in your package if you want to get rid of problem in searching for the one yourself. Getting a good and comfortable hotel is must because there you can relax both

mentally and physically. It is better to read some of the information regarding travel guide and tips before boarding for your journey. This is of immense importance because tips will help you to have a safe and secure

journey.
With so many interesting places and locations to see in India, you will get nothing less than adventure, fun and excitement.

For more information visit http://www.vfmtravels.co.uk

The author provides cheap and best India tour packages and gives top travel tips and safety guidelines to make your stay safe and smooth without any hassles. If you want

to travel India, visit vfmtravels.co.uk.

PostHeaderIcon A Strong Housekeeping Function is Core to a Successful Hospitality Business by Leela Hotels, India

In conversation with Sharmila Chand, Vijaylakshmi talks about the various crucial issues related to Housekeeping, excerpt:

How important in your opinion is housekeeping to hospitality?

A strong Housekeeping function is core to a successful hospitality business. The housekeeping team works round the clock lo make sure the rooms are kept clean and guests’ needs are addressed in a friendly and efficient manner. It is important to make the guests feel at home and have an experience worth remembering.

Do you perceive any new trends in housekeeping?

The growth of hospitality industry has been tremendous for the past couple oí years with which the demand for trained professionals in hotel industry has gone up. Areas that are maintained by contracted or out sourced staff are on the increase. Hiring of room linen, F&B linen and uniforms is catching up as it proves to be cost effective and reduces the inventory. Several kinds of modern equipment and chemicals are available in the market – these have reduced the load of cleaning staff and have improved the mode of cleaning. Extra emphasis on ergonomics and self-protection of the cleaning staff are prioritized. Still largely the domain of women from top to base, there has been a steep increase in the number of male professionals these days. Housekeeping, as complex as the function, requires rigorous training.

How much of an emphasis does the hotel place on this?

We are very particular while choosing the best possible people for housekeeping duties, and provide them with constant training, looking for ways to improve the way we work. It is important that the staff is courteous and friendly at all times while delivering their services. There is a lot of focus on being diligent in our work, and meeting the high standards we set for ourselves requires regular training. Proper orientation and initial induction process is very important before the actual training. This improves the level ol confidence and the sense of belongingness of the new staff. Then comes the skilled training that is on the job through which one gets attuned to the unit specific standards. After the initial six months proving his/her efficiency, a carrier path is drawn out depending on the capability of the individual. All these processes ensure mutual benefit for both the employee and the organization.

What elements you take into account to recruit staff?

Initially we investigate the employee’s family and the environment he/she was brought up in. Physical fitness plays a major role in laborious housekeeping processes; hence a lot of emphasis is given to this aspect. Fluency in spoken English and proficiency in other international languages add to credibility As mentioned earlier, the staff need to be pleasant and friendly, more so when interacting with our guests. Other qualities we emphasize on are diligence, honesty and team spirit Efficiency in utilizing skills can be developed through job training* How does India compare with the international scenario with regards to housekeeping? Many of the facilities and services we offer in India today are world class – many of the

most luxurious hotels are located in India. This makes it essential that the housekeeping meets internationally accepted standards and processes. The area where Indian units score less is in terms of implementation of latest technology that enhances the product presentation and user-friendly values.

for full details <a onClick=”javascript:pageTracker._trackPageview(’/outgoing/article_exit_link’);” href=”http://www.theleela.com/images/clean-hygiene.pdf”>visit here</a>

The Leela Hotels & Resorts