UK prime minister Boris Johnson officially announced
yesterday that parts of the nation’s hospitality industry, including accommodation,
restaurants and pubs, will be allowed to reopen from 4 July, but exhibition
centres and conference venues must remain closed. The news has prompted the
meetings and events industry to call for clarity on when business meetings
might be allowed to go ahead.
While the hospitality industry has welcomed a reduction in
social distancing guidelines from 2m to “1m-plus”, Lex Butler, chair of the Hotel Booking Agents Association (HBAA), said: “Covid-19 and lockdown have been a hammer blow to business events,
meetings and accommodation agencies, venues and suppliers – for the whole
sector. By reducing social distancing to 1m-plus and providing guidelines, the
government has wrapped the hammer in plastic.
“However, while we welcome the relaxing of this distance,
damage has been done. The introduction of 1m-plus distancing makes meetings and
events just about viable; keeping at 2m they would not have been…
“Now, after chasing these guidelines for many weeks, the industry
has less than two weeks to put these exact requirements in place. It’s a
challenge but one we’re pleased to have at last.
“Even so, many thousands of people in the business events,
accommodation and meetings industry will still be made redundant in the coming
days, weeks and months. The industry still needs extra financial support – a special
extension of the furlough scheme, continuing business rates relief, commercial
rent relief, a delay in payment of corporation tax and a reduction in VAT on
accommodation and meetings packages – until spring 2021 to keep businesses
alive when, we hope, the hammer blows will stop and business will hopefully
return.”
Joss Croft, CEO of UKinbound, commented: “Although these
measures are very much to be welcomed, government needs to recognise that
whilst some businesses will hopefully be able to recoup a small proportion of
their losses over the much shorter summer season, many businesses, especially
those that rely wholly or mostly on inbound tourism, will have gone through the
equivalent of ‘three winters’ and will need further financial support if they
are to survive and continue to drive jobs and growth across the UK.”
UKHospitality chief executive Kate Nicholls said: “While
many venues will endeavour to reopen on 4 July, capacities will be constrained
by social distancing and some may be unable to trade viably at all, so
continued government support will remain crucial. Many businesses have been
closed for months with no revenue and are now facing substantial rent and PAYE
bills. We need financial help from the government, otherwise some of these businesses
are going to go under right at the point at which they are allowed to open once
again.”
Jane Longhurst, chief executive of the Meetings Industry
Association (MIA), pointed out that the announcement provided very little
clarity on when the meetings and events industry will be able to restart, aside
from the promise that the government will work with the sector to put
guidelines in place to resume services “as soon as possible”.
Longhurst said: “We were extremely disappointed that
yesterday’s announcement did not provide any clarity for our sector. Without a
start date, the social distancing reduction to 1m is totally irrelevant and has
a potentially devastating impact on our industry that currently provides over
700,000 jobs to a diverse and highly skilled UK-based workforce.
“Continuing to work in collaboration with BVEP [Business Visits and Events Partnership], the MIA will
be pushing government to provide clear guidance on when business conferences,
events, exhibitions and trade fairs will be allowed to take place. We
understand that a further announcement is due to be made in mid-July but we
will be continuing our persistent campaigning and communication with the
government urging for a clear steer on reopening as we’re aware that venues are
already making difficult long-term decisions on their future business models
and workforce based on yesterday’s statement.”
The MIA has developed a package of support to help venues
with their reopening preparations, as well as guidance on reassuring customer confidence
in future. It has also enhanced its AIM accreditation programme to include criteria
for infection prevention and control protocols, which all accredited venues
will need to meet over the coming weeks to be awarded the new standard.
Longhurst added: “While we push for clarity, it is crucial
that venues continue their reopening preparations. As our roadmap has been
signposted by the government and UKHospitality, venues can confidently use our
guidance to develop their risk assessments. Without one in place, a venue will
simply be unable to reopen.”