Reacting to CCPA’s latest guidelines on service charge, Mr. Kohli, VP, FHRAI, says, “It’s extremely disheartening that the hospitality industry is constantly singled out. It is a charge collected for the benefit of the staff which includes everyone from the waiters to the personnel working in the kitchen, serving consumers directly and indirectly.” He further highlighted that no hospitality establishment coaxes a consumer to pay it if for any reason they choose not to. But ironically, there are several online websites and apps that charge convenience fees including the Government-run IRCTC. He requested the Government to introduce a law that is uniform to all businesses and that the hospitality industry is not discriminated against. The Association has underlined the fact that CCPA has issued only a new set of guidelines and not a new law. Moreover, most of these guidelines issued by CCPA have already been followed by hotels and restaurants. “FHRAI may approach the CCPA seeking clarifications and to submit further suggestions,” says Mr Pradeep Shetty, Jt. Hon. Sec., FHRAI & Sr. VP, HRAWI.
