EDITOR’S LETTER
CONTRIBUTORS
STEPHEN W. AYERS
Stephen is a British and
Canadian author and former
hotel manager. He is the CEO
of Stay Ahead Hospitality,
a company that helps
independent hoteliers in
Europe and North America
to attain high standards and
increase profit
A stronger
industry voice
This month brought the news that two of the
largest UK hospitality trade associations, the
British Hospitality Association (BHA) and the
Association of Licensed Multiple Retailers (ALMR),
have merged to create UKHospitality, a new body
which will represent 700 operators across 65,000
DEBORAH HEATHER
Deborah is the director of
Quality in Tourism - the
accommodation assessment
scheme for VisitEngland.
Deborah manages a
team of more than 40
accommodation assessors,
who each grade some 300
properties a year
sites. The new body will bring together businesses
from all aspects of hospitality – pubs, restaurants,
nightclubs, hotels, leisure parks, contract caterers, entertainment
and visitor attractions.
In a statement shortly after the announcement, UKHospitality
named its objectives as: “Firstly, creating a tax system which is
fit for purpose, one which reflects the realities of business in the
21st Century and allows a level playing field for traditional high
PETER HANCOCK
Peter has been the
chief executive of Pride
of Britain Hotels - a
collection of never more
than 50 luxury and
independent properties -
since 2000. He previously
managed hotels and
restaurants in Sussex and
Hampshire, having started
out as a waiter
street and community-based businesses which now compete with
online companies; secondly, a regulatory regime which allows the
hospitality sector to focus on growth rather than red tape; and
finally, developing the hospitality workforce of the future.”
So who’s managing the new outfit? The board of UKHospitality
will be led by CEO Kate Nicholls, who is joined by chair Nick Varney
of Merlin Entertainments and deputy chair Steve Richards of
Casual Dining Group. Ufi Ibrahim, former chief executive of the
British Hospitality Association (BHA) has decided to step down,
ANGIE PETKOVIC
Angie started as our
resident marketing advice
columnist and has now
built a substantial following
for her straight-talking
answers to the common
questions about executing
a professional marketing
strategy
though it had unclear when the merger was announced back in
January whether Ibrahim, who has been chief executive of the
BHA since July 2010, would have a role in UKHospitality. Now it has
been confirmed that she is to leave the organisation ‘to pursue
other interests’.
A consolidation of voices from this sector is welcome. The
sector as a whole is worth some £130 billion per year to the UK
economy, employs 10% of the workforce, and generates about £38
billion for the Treasury. It is one of the largest sectors in Britain,
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MARCH 2018 £5.95
but one which was not sufficiently unified to provide the kind of
WWW.HOTELOWNER.CO.UK
lobbying welly needed for government to take notice. Here’s hoping
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the new body is successful in its aims and the industry can flourish
for the independent hotelier who means business
with its support.
I hope you enjoy the issue.
ACCESS ALL AREAS
The hotel industry stands to gain a lot from having better
disability policies, both financially and in terms of inclusivity.
We took a look at which UK hotels are getting it right.
4
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ON THE COVER
Illustration
commissioned
by Hotel Owner
and produced by
Russ Tudor.
Michael Northcott
Editor, Hotel Owner
[email protected]
March 2018