Next three months will be ‘game changer’ for hospitality industry

Hoteliers in Bristol claim the next three months will be a ‘game changer’ for the hospitality industry in the UK as businesses struggle to find the number of staff they need.

Raphael Herzog, chair of the Bristol Hoteliers Association (BHA), warned: “There are major staffing shortages in the hospitality industry that threaten to undermine the UK’s recovery.”

Kate Nicholls, Chief Executive of trade body UKHospitality, said earlier this month that the hospitality sector in the South West currently has a 10% vacancy rate.

There are positive signs for a brighter future for the hospitality industry in the region, but Mr Herzog said the businesses need to attract enough staff in order to meet the rapidly growing demand.

He said: “This week I read that a VisitBritain survey said that just over one fifth of holidaymakers are seriously considering the South West as their preferred destination for their next overnight stay.

“This is wonderful news, of course, and a very welcome vote of confidence in our region. It will be a very welcome boost to business, which is why it’s so important that we are able to get the staff we need in order to provide guests with the level of service they expect.

“Many Bristol hotels are currently carrying a number of vacancies.

“Many staff who were furloughed, but understandably concerned about whether or not they would have a job to come back to, have found alternative employment in other sectors, such as online ordering, distribution, delivery company driving, NHS and grocery shopping.

“Brexit has also had an impact; more than 30% of hospitality workers across the UK are thought to have come from Europe, but that rises to more than half for those employed in this region.

“Hotels, Pubs, Restaurants and other venues have been hit with the double whammy of changes to immigration rules post-Brexit, and many workers deciding to return to their country of origin in Europe as a result of the pandemic.

“We are asking to lobby against the changes to EU visa rules that have affected the sector since last year. The hospitality industry needs a coronavirus recovery visa to help bring foreign workers back quickly after lockdown, to support the local economic recovery.

“The next three months are going to be a big game-changer for our industry in the UK. Good companies have many passionate hoteliers, owners and investors who will work hard to make it happen.

“I understand that some hotels are planning to raise the entry level salaries for roles in hospitality, and we also need to ensure that the work-life balance is improved for staff.

“We need the rules around weddings and events to be relaxed, too, as this makes a vital contribution to our income.

“But staffing is the biggest challenge facing us. Getting our world-leading hospitality industry back on its feet will be vital for the UK’s economic recovery, but simply won’t be possible without the chefs, waiters, room attendants, bartenders, night porters and other key people at the heart of the industry.

“Hospitality offers many young people their first step into the world of work. It’s more important than ever that we show them that there is a wide range of diverse, long-term, career opportunities and fantastic experiences to be had within our dynamic and diverse sector.

“We know people want to enjoy our hospitality again, which encourages us to believe our businesses can recover from the pandemic and deliver a world-class summer of fun for our visitors, old and new.”