Caterer and Hotelkeeper – 6005

FIRST SERVICE

Tory MP Michael Fabricant's bill to introduce regulations on service charges received its first reading unopposed last week in the House of Commons.

However, a spokeswoman for the Consumers' Association, which backed the Ten-minute Rule bill, said it was unlikely to get past its second reading on 4 March.

She said the bill had been intended only to highlight the issue, although the association hoped the Government would prohibit service charges on restaurant menus in future legislation.

JACUZZI RISK

A QUARTER of central London's hotel jacuzzis contain unacceptably high levels of bacteria, according to early findings of a project by Westminster's environmental health department.

The project, which is due to be completed in March, has looked at around 30 hotels so far in the borough, including five-star properties.

HILTON windfall

HILTON International is to receive compensation of US$125m (£84m) for the termination next January of its management contract on the 750-bedroom Hongkong Hilton.

The 20-year contract is being bought out by the property's owner, Hutchison Whampoa, and Hilton is already looking for another property. The hotel earned Hilton a management fee of about $6m (£4m) last year.

DIRECTORS DINing

PALL Mall Catering this week launched a directors dining division, Pall Mall Premier Dining, headed by Peter Slieker.

Mr Slieker, who joined Pall Mall at the end of last year, set up Sutcliffe's executive dining service, Charters, in 1987.