or next month, or even next year, but I
do think there is a real opportunity for
imaginative hoteliers to surge forward right
now and make a solid comeback.
“It will take us a long time to get over
the financial hit we’ve taken and I’m sure
the same is true of other hotels but we’re
still here, still welcoming our guests and
hopefully we’re on the up.”
Charlie Eedle, marketing and revenue
manager at Ramside Hall Hotel,
acknowledged the support the hotel industry
had from the government during lockdown
was vital in ensuring the survival of the
hotels and securing the jobs of those who
went on furlough.
And he is hoping the worst is now over.
“We have to see it as light at the end of the
tunnel,” he said.
“We were fortunate we had the golf course
opened before July 4 so that we could get
ready for how we would operate in terms of
risk assessments.
“It was hard at first, getting all these new
procedures in place, but we’ve successfully
done so and although things are different,
it has run very smoothly, and we’re hoping
that over the course of time things will really
pick up.
“Customer confidence is going to be key
for the success of the hospitality industry in
terms of it getting back to normal.
“And all we can do is keep on driving
home the fact that we have taken every
possible precaution in terms of keeping our
guests safe.”
Ian Gray at the George agrees: “We’ve
been running a ‘Safe as houses’ campaign to
promote the message that our hotel is as safe
as your house.
“And the Eat Out to Help Out voucher
scheme from the government has been really
useful in terms of attracting people back to
our restaurant and giving them confidence.
“We also benefited from having our golf
course.
“Not only is it one of the easiest of all
sports to socially distance in and a welcome
source of revenue but the earlier opening
dates allowed us to get.”
Charlie said: “The big thing is Christmas
– which is critical to the health of the hotel
industry – and, of course, weddings.
“We have to see what the social distancing
guidance is like in the run-up to the festive
season.”
Gordon added: “The next few months will
be particularly attractive to guests because I
think it’s clear that it will be very competitive
among hotels for business and there should
be some great rates and offers out there for
the guests.
“I’m very confident for the future of
Lumley.
“It will be a very hard slog for everyone,
but the sooner we start to get back,
increasingly, towards normality, the sooner
growth will return.
“Hopefully, maybe a year from now, we’ll
look back as an industry and, hopefully, pat
ourselves on the back that we were put on
what was effectively a war footing, and we
responded reasonably well.”
You can find out more about Lumley Castle’s offer at lumleycastle.com, Ramside Hall
at ramsidehallhotel.co.uk and the George Washington at georgewashington.co.uk.
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