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Hancock Checks In

~ News and opinion from Peter Hancock, chief executive of Pride of Britain Hotels

Hancock Checks In

Monthly Archives: February 2017

Service charges and our reputation

10 Friday Feb 2017

Posted by Peter Hancock in News and opinion

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Bob Cotton, Miles Quest, Service charge, The Caterer

This week’s Caterer magazine (10th Feb 2017) includes a compelling piece by Bob Cotton and Miles Quest on the damage our industry has done to itself by failing in some cases (we don’t know how many) to pay the National Living Wage and in some cases (again, we don’t know how many) failing to distribute service charges to their staff in a fair way.

I am sorry to say that a high profile restaurateur made matters worse recently by attempting to defend the latter practise on the grounds that it’s the only way to keep his business afloat, and the former on the grounds that he simply didn’t know it was happening. This isn’t good enough if we want to attract bright people into the hotel and catering trade at a time of high employment in this country.

As the authors of the article say, transparency is key to restoring any faith the public may still have in the way service charges are handled. Various codes of conduct have been suggested but at the moment each business does things its own way, with some abusing the system appallingly while others go to great lengths to ensure their teams are properly rewarded.

It is regrettable that such a thing should be necessary, but I believe the time has come for all establishments to declare in writing (for customers and staff to plainly see) what they do with any service charges they collect. The best are already doing this. For the sake of our industry’s reputation, others must follow without delay.

Let us entertain you

07 Tuesday Feb 2017

Posted by Peter Hancock in News and opinion

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#BTTF3, Hospitality Action

BTTF3Around 30 of the top men and women in the hotel & catering trade have been persuaded to go “back to the floor” by serving as waiters and sommeliers for those lucky enough to bag a table for one very special evening on April 7th at The Grosvenor House (a JW Marriot Hotel) Park Lane, London.

This will be the third and by far the largest “Back to the Floor” dinner organised by Philip Newman-Hall and Danny Pecorelli with all proceeds going to our industry charity, Hospitality Action. I shall be there as MC and auctioneer so please come ready to spend, spend, spend.

Tickets are selling fast CLICK HERE TO BOOK

 

 

 

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