Editor’s note: The global COVID-19 crisis has left each one of us deeply affected and we want to help. Burda Media India has organised a fundraising campaign to #FightBackWithTesting and donating RT-PCR test kits to the worst-affected areas in India, which will be secured from our testing partner Mylab Discovery Solutions. You can help these kits reach many more by donating for the cause or by adopting a kit. Click here to join the fight.
The Federation of Hotel & Restaurant Associations of India or FHRAI has promised over 45,000 hotel rooms across India and seven lakh meals per day to help the government deal with the lockdown extension in the country. By Sushmita Srivastav
It wasn’t a shocker when Lockdown 3.0 was announced by the Government of India, considering the increasing number of COVID-19 cases across the country. Dealing with the global pandemic, however, is bringing along a new problem every day, and many organisations are stepping up to support the authorities in any and every way possible. And the Federation of Hotel & Restaurant Associations of India has extended a rather big helping hand to the government. The world’s third-largest hospitality industry federation or FHRAI has announced to voluntarily offer government access to over 45,000 hotel rooms across the country.
A number of member hotels of FHRAI have promised to set aside rooms to quarantine inbound tourists as well as people stuck in different parts of the country due to the global travel ban. These rooms will also be provided to healthcare workers and doctors for whom returning home everyday post fighting the deadly pandemic isn’t an option. Ranging from leading five-star brands to standalone properties, these hotels have been selected based on the cluster regions identified by the official authorities.
“The association has appealed to its member hotels and restaurants to fully cooperate with the government officials and to support the cause. The hospitality industry has been on the frontline during this pandemic and is offering its full support to the government in the effort to control further spread of the virus. FHRAI through its regional Associations is offering meals as well as has voluntarily offered rooms all over India via our member hotels and restaurants,” says Gurbaxish Singh Kohli, Vice President, FHRAI and President, HRAWI (Hotel and Restaurant Association of Western India).
Furthermore, HRAWI, the regional arm of the hospitality association, has been offering meals, food packets, meal preparation facilities, and distribution of dry rations to the needy. State governments, local authorities, and various NGOs have come together with the federation branch to make this happen. In Mumbai, member hotels and restaurants of the HRAWI are assisting in the preparation and distribution of two lakh meals per day.
“In the western region, the HRAWI has mobilised as many of its member restaurants to provide meals to over five lakh people who are in need. The industry and its players have opened their doors and hearts to support the people at the Central, State and local authorities to combat the COVID-19 pandemic. We have advised our members to take all precautionary measures and maintain the highest levels of cleanliness and hygiene. We have also been sharing all the updated advisories as received from the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare to members,” concludes Kohli.
Related: #TnlSalutes: Chef Vikas Khanna Has Delivered Over 400 Quintal Dry Ration During The Pandemic
