INTERVIEW
UKHOSPITALITY
investment, and by the way we generated
one in six of all new jobs last year. Suddenly
they can take you seriously. I think we
haven’t been good and effective enough
communicating that to government.
How are you planning to liaise with
hoteliers specifically?
We are planning to set up a separate hotels
policy group and we are making sure that on
out advisory council which is made up of 20
people representing each sector, there will
be a strong hotels presence. Clearly the BHA
represent almost all the hotel chain and has
a large number of independent hoteliers,
to rely on. To reduce business rates so we Why is now the right time? we want to make sure they are heard at
can invest in our high streets. To make sure It’s hard to think of a more turbulent time the advisory council and the specific hotel
the tax regime is fair for all. To make sure than the hospitality sector has weathered in group
the costs of employment are balanced and the last year, we have faced unprecedented issues. We will make sure we are plugged in
don’t inhibit what we are able to achieve regulatory were as much as hospital and any independent
and invest in our teams so we have the totally have hoteliers that are members of localised hotel
headroom in our businesses to develop been foreseen with what happened with associations are members, we want to work
new and exciting training and career and business rates and national wage. That is closely together with them to tackle tourism
personal development teams. A 10-year plan, then combined with Brexit and a minority taxes and locally where additional taxation
and finally VAT disparity. government, which means we can’t be certain proposed we want to provide support at
what is going to happen in the political even a local level.
cost
unexpected
pressures
and
could
that
not
where
we
discuss
hotel
specific
What can UKHospitality do better than environment which impacts investor and ALMR and BHA did separately? consumer confidence. It is a perfect storm So hoteliers don’t need to worry about
I think it about making sure you have a created at the present moment in time that being forgotten through the merger?
commonality of message. You are going means businesses are needing a strong and Absolutely not if you look at both associations
to have a very big body that is going that powerful voice to get the message across so you’ve got very strong hotel representation
comes together that will punch very much their situation improves and doesn’t worsen, from both sides, we are a very broad church
punch above its weight so it brings together which has galvanized us to come together but there is that complimentary fit so there
over and achieve those objectives. absolutely no way that the interest of hotels
700
businesses
60,000
individual
and small hoteliers will be overlooked in the
outlets almost 2.5m employees, so when
it comes to the business stage we can Is hospitality being ignored by the punch above our weight whereas previously government? we have had three or four bodies that I don’t think it is being ignored I just think that Where do you see UKHospitality in five
talk for separate segments of hospitality, the government doesn’t appreciate its size years time?
and that allows government to divide and scale and importance. Our sector is made up I’d like to make sure that when we are
conquer. It’s about having one voice and 80% by SMEs - that means you don’t have walking into downing street because there
one message with powerful clout, as you that critical size and scale. If the government is a business council hospitality is there with
have all of the sector coming together for wants to talk to food manufacturing it goes the other four business groups and is not
the first time. It means hospitality is the and talks to Unilever. Because we don’t overlooked. I would also like to make sure that
third largest employer but the government have that concentrated mass, government we have grown and increased out coverage
gets in regularly on business councils the takes us for granted and doesn’t recognise so we have everybody within the tent and
CBI the FSB and the Engineering Employers the importance of the industry as a whole cover all sectors of hospitality. Finally I would
Federation and the BRC - we should be as nobody has been speaking for it as a like to see a regulatory environment that
there as well, we should be the fifth party whole. Now we can say here we are we are allows businesses to grow, invest and thrive,
to that and think that is what this merger a £130bn turnover industry, we are 10% of and which doesn’t impose unnecessary cost
will do. UK employment, 5% of UK GDP and 1% of UK and burdens.
26
www.hotelowner.co.uk
new organisation.
March 2018