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Wednesday 6 October 1999 0:20am Hotels and restaurants under Y2K cloud

Millennium revellers could find themselves celebrating in the cold this year unless restaurants and hotels take urgent action to tackle Y2K compliancy, according to government watchdog Action 2000.

In its latest report, the watchdog accused the hospitality industry - which is likely to suffer mainly from embedded chip problems - of not taking the issue seriously. It warned that partygoers could find themselves locked in hotel rooms, stuck in lifts or caught in the middle of false firm alarms.

"It's a classic case of unawareness and short planning horizons. Most small hotels and restaurants work hand to mouth and don't have the time to listen to these issues," said a government spokesman.

Action 2000's survey showed that over half of hoteliers questioned thought a contingency plan was unnecessary despite the fact they are open for business over the millennium period. Only 32 per cent had placed any importance on compliancy, and there was little evidence of the necessary supply chain work to ensure suppliers of critical goods, such as food and sanitary products, arrive.

The survey also warned businesses are at great risk from embedded chips in fire and gas detection system, lifts and communications equipment, sprinkler systems, access and door entry systems.

However, the Health and Safety executive played down the importance of the issue, claiming it is up to local authorities to ensure the hotels and restaurants in their areas are complying with health and safety standards.

The executive said: "We are not going to do an independent audit; the scale is too vast to get round to everywhere and to be frank, even the people who own the equipment have to call in other specialists to sort it out. We don't enforce health and safety in these areas - we leave it to the local authorities - who simply ask if the establishment has done an assessment."

-- Uncle Bob (UNCLB0B@Y2KOK.ORG), October 06, 1999

Answers

I own a small Italian restaurant and purchase my pasta, tomatoes, Romano cheese and many other products from Italy. I have spoken to all my distributors regarding their y2k preparedness and most of them dont' have a clue. I checked the gov web and Italy looks like one of the worst prepared countries in Europe!

Anyone want to buy a future hot dog stand?

-- Li'l Italy (Paisan@HotDog.Com), October 06, 1999.

As far as any hotels and restaurants are concerned--if there isn't water available,they will have to close.Toilets need water to flush!Very basic.The same would apply to many other places of business.

-- Maggie (aaa@aaa.com), October 06, 1999.