Lao Hotel & Restaurant Association Minute of meeting for Hotelier I Date: May 3, 2006 Time: 2pm-4pm Venue: Lao Plaza Hotel, Plaza I Topic: Financial Standard for hotels focus on Tax instruction, Benefit, Social… Participants: - Mr. Nobuyuki Fukuda Vice President of LHRA / General Manager of Lao Plaza
- Mr. Thong Souvanna Secretariat of LHRA / Director of Villa Sisavad Guesthouse
- Mr. Christopher Yeo Board Member of LHRA/ General Manager of Novotel Vientiane
- Ms. Alounvanh Executive Director of LHRA
- Mr. Sisouk RDM Settha Palace Hotel
- Mrs. Thongsith Asst. Hr Mgr Lao Plaza Hotel
- Mrs. Naphat F & A Mgr Lao Plaza Hotel
- Mr. Sonephet Chief Accounting Parkview Executive suite
- Mr. Khamsing Accounting Lane Xange Hotel
- Mr. Khamsouk HR Mgr Novotel Vientiane
- Mr. Leng Angkham General Manager Angkham Hotel
- Ms. Keoduangchay Accounting Tai-Pan Hotel
- Ms. Viphaphone Accountant Green Park Hotel
- Ms. Sanouda Financial Green Park Hotel
- Ms. Unchalee Accountant Don Chan Palace Hotel
- Ms. Viengkham Accountant Don Chan Palace Hotel
Objective of the meeting: - To exchange and share ideas on Financial Standard of each hotel
- To brainstorm and discuss on the financial matters which will focus on tax instruction, benefit, social and problems that concern to hotelier.
The meeting started at 2.15 PM. · Welcomed guests and mentioned the above objectives by Mr. Thong Souvana, Secretariat of LHRA. · Mr. Fukuda, Vice President and Treasurer of LHRA conducted the meeting and the discussion has been divided into 3 main topics; introduction, accounting/financial problems and other matters Introduction by each hotel with general information - Average occupancy has increase about 5-10% for the first quarter of 2006 for hotel business when comparing to year 2005 and room rate are increasing more $ 5 per room/night due to the strong purchasing power by guests. - The turn over of the employee average is not too high, most reasons of resignation are their personal own caused such as further study, remunerate and etc. - There are more or less similar benefits that the hotels provide to employee for, such as: meal allowance, Social Security, incentive for employee of the month, employee birthday, honesty award, diligent award, dormitory for expatriate, transportation for employee, service charge and etc. The problems that the hotels face are: - Lack of qualified people in hospitality field - Asked for Social Security Organization to consider for the accidents on road caused by piracy and to improve the quality of service for the SSO members. - Blacklist or termination staff should be announced or informed to hotel network to be aware of and screening background before hiring. - Accountant of each hotel should inform hotel network about bad debtors from major agents or companies. - Slow payment by governmental organizations which are over two years some time. Financial discussion: - Tax department is asking for hotels to pay more income tax on the staff benefits such as meal, dormitory and transportation, etc. - Uniform should not be counted staff benefit due to the asset of the hotels - All accountants should follow and keep update with the Reconcile Tax Law. - All entertainment outlet need to pay 25% for its excise tax in addition to 10 % business tax to the authority. - According to the Tax Law, all business should have international and Lao accounting in English and Lao version. - All the hotels have to avoid cash kick back to any organization or company in person as a commission. Recommended that everything should recorded in paper work so that it cab be showed to the public in the case of necessity. - The official receipt is being used by the big hotels but some hotel might have problems on this issue as not all suppliers are using at the moment. - Service charge is the additional income for employees who work in the hotel, but there is no standard of its distribution. For some hotels it is depending on the staff grade of the hotel and for others service charge will be paid equal to all employees with the monthly result of their performance (lateness, sick leave, absence) which will deduct from service charge. - Overtime will not give to the manager level but will give to the supervisor level below, this point is depending on how the rule and regulation of each hotel some compensate OT by time and some by cash according to the labor law of Lao. - Holidays are setting 15 days per year for the staff who work more than one year, the holiday need to be clear within year and also additional with public holiday. For Information: - In the GMS meeting at Luang prabang during 28-31 March, 2006. LNTA will collect 1$ per check in of the guest from the hotel, guesthouse. - Hotel in Lao could open account in Thailand, for who is interesting could ask for more information with Ministry of Justice The meeting finished at 4 pm on May 3, 2006. The next meeting will inform later. |
