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Paris, 5 October 1998 - The International Hotel & Restaurant
Association (IH&RA) has launched an information campaign via a series
of newsletters to advise hotels and restaurants how to beat the millennium
bug and prepare their operations for the Year 2000 date change.
While most major international hotel groups have started to ensure their systems are 2000 compliant', independent and smaller operators tend to be less well prepared. "Many people are still unaware of the implications, but one thing is sure - business processes will fail if not corrected," said IH&RA president Eric Pfeffer. The IH&RA campaign takes the form of a series of news briefs designed
to let independent operators know the risks involved - and how to avoid
them. Each issue tackles a different aspect
"Our aim is to convey the urgency of acting now, before it's too late, provide practical advice on how to achieve Y2K compliance and list the information resources available," said Pfeffer. "The risk is not limited to January 1, 2000 - failures are already happening." The Year 2000 problem is estimated to cost businesses worldwide anywhere between US$200 billion and US$600 billion to correct, with additional unknown costs related to litigation issues. The issue is also not limited to potential failure or malfunction of
the property�s technology, but includes Y2K�s impact on suppliers� ability
to provide services, and the threat that customers will go elsewhere if
they are not confident of a hotel�s ability to prevent disruption.
The
In a parallel development, the IH&RA�s Euro Task Force - set up to study the impact of the euro currency on the international hospitality industry - is urging European members whose systems are not Y2K-compliant to carry out upgrades for the transition to the euro and Y2K at the same time, as a more cost-effective solution. The euro is due to come into effect January 1, 1999, and totally replace national currencies in 2002. "The phased-in introduction of the Euro gives people time to prepare.
But with the countdown to the Year 2000, we're literally buying time,"
warns François-Xavier Baudin, project controller Europe for Starwood
Hotels & Resorts and member of the Task Force. "The closer we
get to
To ensure a smooth changeover to the new millennium, hoteliers and restaurateurs are advised to take the following steps:
industry it represents, protects, promotes and informs its members to enable them to achieve their objectives. Don't miss the international hospitality event of the year - the 36th
IH&RA Annual Congress, 22 - 26 October 1998, Manila, Philippines. This
year's theme: 'One to One: Marketing in the Interactive Age'.
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Eurhotec '99 to Take a Look at Technology Beyond the Year 2000 / Oct 1998 |
YEAR 2000: The Day the Earth Stood Still or Business As Usual / July 1998 |