Good to see you – keep in touch

We haven't seen much of our Minister for Tourism since he took office last June, and we certainly haven't heard a lot about his strategies for the future of the industry. It was a relief, therefore, to see Richard Caborn stand up in London last week and set out his stall for the coming year - or two.

To be fair, five months isn't long when you're trying to get your head around a £75b industry. He doesn't have the resource of a major governmental department, sharing his office space with cultural, media and sporty types. And it has been the holiday season (even members of the House are allowed time off - it's part of a Working Time Directive entitlement).

Caborn has four "areas of effective action" that he thinks the industry should be concentrating on, and full marks here. Anyone who has been involved in tourism for any length of time will agree that improved marketing of small businesses, better data collection and an improved skills base can only be of benefit. Oh, and a review of the accommodation grading schemes in England, Scotland and Wales. That sounds good.

In fact, this is the most important point of the four, because it's by using the grading schemes that the majority of visitors choose their accommodation and judge, ultimately, whether they are getting value for money. Whatever systems are in play, they need to be simple and straightforward.

Former English Tourism Council chairman Alan Britten has been leading a review of the schemes since May, and so far the signs are good. Common ground is being sought (and found) and everyone is confident that the recommendations, when they come, will have sense and clarity.

All I hope is that the minister keeps us informed of progress. Having been presented with some targets to aim for, the industry needs to be kept up to speed with developments. It is, after all, the operators on the ground who have to deliver better marketing, provide more data and improve skills training. And it is operators on the ground that will have to subscribe to a new, improved grading system when it comes.

So stand up more often, Mr Caborn. Be visible. Let us know what's happening and what you're thinking and how we're doing, and then, when the Olympics come to London in 2012 - as they surely will - we'll be in the best shape possible to cope.

Abela's master plan
At a time when most restaurateurs are keeping their heads down and their expansion plans on hold, restaurateur Marlon Abela's business strategy is a bold one. He wants to open 30 restaurants in the UK and the USA in the next five years - and gain two to three Michelin stars for some of them into the bargain. The question is: can it be done, and if so, how? Find out more on page 22.
Helen Adkins, restaurants and bars editor
Inside City Inn Amid the air of doom and gloom that lingered over London's depressed hotels sector back in September, the opening of the 460-bedroom City Inn Westminster was a genuine breath of fresh air. Now, with plans to beef up its four-strong portfolio to 10 or 11 properties by 2007 and talk of international expansion, we chat to managing director and co-founder David Orr to find out what the buzz at City Inn is all about.
Karl Cushing, deputy hotels editor