Bed & Breakfast News Issue #46 Spring 2018 | Page 21

Visit our website: | bandbnews.co.uk | 21
MPs call for a
‘level playing
field’ for B&Bs
The All-Party Parliamentary Group (APPG)
on Tourism, Chaired by Gordon Marsden
(right), MP for Blackpool South, released its
Interim Report into the so-called “sharing
economy” (ie ‘peer-to-peer’ platforms like
Airbnb) during English Tourism Week,
the run up to National B&B Day. We agree: if Fire Authorities inspect small B&Bs,
they must also inspect similar-sized competitors
using the new business models. If they can’t
do inspections on the smallest premises,
then small B&Bs should be exempted too (as
“sharing economy” premises currently are in
practice, because of the enforcement failure).
The Bed & Breakfast Association had
attended Parliament to give evidence to
the APPG last month, so we were delighted
to read the interim report, whose key
recommendation is: Our aim as always is to minimise the burdens
on our members, whilst ensuring they are
not disadvantaged compared with new
competitors. In other words, to “level the
playing-field”.
“As a principle, all businesses offering
accommodation in the visitor economy,
whether existing ones or new ones enabled by
the sharing economy and its platforms, should
compete on a level playing field.”
For more, read “Diminishing room for double
standards in the sharing economy” - Travel
Weekly. The final report from the APPG is
due out in May.
We have campaigned since 2012 for fair
competition and the same rules, fairly and
sensibly applied, for all. The APPG seems
to have agreed with us that is is wrong
that small B&Bs should be penalised
while a global $31 billion company is given
unfair competitive advantages while their
customers go unprotected.
The APPG say “the implications of
enforcement agencies lacking adequate
resources to carry out safety inspections
“must be grasped”.
Making a difference...
...to people’s lives
Making a difference...
...to busi ness
You can help too.. .
Donate £5
text
SPRINGBOARD
to 70555
and help support our vital work,
Thank you