Himachal Tourism To Revamp Buisness – Sell 2 Hotels, 3 Cafes

Ravinder Makhaik

Shimla: As part of revamping its hospitality businesses HP Tourism Development Corporation (HPTDC) board chaired by chief minister Prem Kumar Dhumal today decided to outright sell three cafes, sell out one hotel to a religious trust and handover the Mandi hotel complex to technical education department for ultimately being handed over to Indian Institute of Technology for starting the prestigious institution there.

The board approved a proposal for outright sale of Cafe Bhairav in Baijnath, Cafe Aabshar in Dedgharat (Kandaghat) and Cafe Geetanjli at Dhundiara (Dalhousie). It also gave its nod for sale of Hotel Deothsidh at Shahtalai in district Hamirpur to the Baba Balaknath Trust.

A proposal to hand over the Mandav Complex in Mandi town to technical education department was approved which would further be transfered to Indian Institute of Technology for starting early classes at Mandi, a board spokesman stated

Revised pay scale – bonuses for employees
With Himachal tourism beating recessionary trends and having reported a profit of Rs 7.26 crore in the first two quarters of 2009-10, the board (HPTDC) at its meeting today approved revised pay scales and bonuses for benefit of about 1800 employees.

The revised pay scales for about 1400 employees would come into effect from January 2006 and for about 400 other employees would get a bonus of 8.33 percent under the Payment of Bonus Act, 2007, said a HPTDC spokesman.

The increased salaries and bonuses come in the backdrop of the government corporation having registered an increase of 21.24 percent in its income and earned a net profit of Rs 7.26 crore for the period of April to September, 2009.

At the meet, the chief minister asked for exploring the possibility of constructing a multi-storeyed integrated tourist’s facility centre at Shimla.

Need for tying-up with the Commonwealth Games authorities for attracting visitors to Himachal by offering all inclusive special packages to the sports lovers were discussed.

The board approved addition of a convention hall and additional 50 double bedded accommodation at Hotel Peterhoff, given the increase in business turnover it had managed.

An increase of 100 double bedded accommodations at Chail Palace Hotel and the possibility for adding another 100 rooms at the Manali Complex was approved.

Besides chief secretary Asha Swarup, others present at the board meeting included Subhashish Panda -MD HPTDC, new directors Govind Thakur – MLA, Ashish Chadha, SP Bansal, Narender Atri, Bhim Sen – principal secretary to CM, Ajay Tyagi – principal secretary finance, Manisha Nanda – principal secretary tourism and Yogesh Bhel GM HPTDC.
Ends