Hyatt Regency stops operations, industry honcho says 'no help from govt'

Updated On: 08 June, 2021 08:11 AM IST | Mumbai | Hemal Ashar

While management says it is trying to ‘resolve situation’, hotel industry stalwarts say their several representations to the PM, FM and tourism minister met with zero response; hope this news serves as a wake-up call

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Hotel Hyatt Regency at the airport. Pic/Ashish Rane

Global hospitality firm Hyatt Hotels Corporation has suspended operations at Hyatt Regency hotel in Mumbai, and said the property will remain closed till further notice. Hours after the news was out, industry stalwarts chorused in unison: ‘we hate to say it but say it we will, we told you so’. The fiery industry honcho, Gurbaxish Singh Kohli said, “We have made so many representations to the tourism minister, the finance minister, the prime minister, unfortunately to zero response.” Kohli said they have been met with the attitude, “it is like telling our industry, you survive somehow, dig your own well and the oil will come out.”

Obituary of the industry

For Kohli, this is writing the obituary of the industry. To those giving a ho-hum reaction to this news, so many eateries and hotels have closed, Kohli says the sheer stature of the chain “should be a smack, a wake-up call. I hope the government representatives now smell the coffee.” He said the industry accounts for “at least 8 to 12 per cent of employment nationwide. With closures, you are going to see humongous unemployment. We want the Centre to put aside inhibitions, egos, and look at this not as some ‘elitist’ or niche sector; it is not. We have been at the forefront on the pandemic help lines. We had our kitchens open to feed the needy, we want to support our country. We will do all we can to help, but we need support too. If a stimulus comes in too late, then it is just like [the saying goes] justice delayed is justice denied. Stimulus delayed, is stimulus denied,” finished Federation of Hotel and Restaurants Association of India vice-president.

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