People 1st, hotel industry second?

Poor taste press release of the week award goes to People 1st, the hospitality industry's sector skill council. Sniffing a gilt-edged opportunity to raise its profile, the organisation's PR machine leapt into action and grabbed onto the coat-tails of the Marriott West India Quay/Spurs lasagne "food poisoning" scandal. In a sanctimonious statement, People 1st boss Brian Wisdom said: "The industry should take heed of the Tottenham Hotspur situation as it clearly highlights the potential impact of food poisoning". Wisdom goes on to blame inadequate food safety training and urges the industry to put it at the top of the skills agenda. Right on, expect the Marriott has been exonerated and the illness blamed on an unconnected player virus. I guess this is what they mean when they talk about an own goal.