New data suggests that planned train strikes over the festive period will cost the UK hospitality sector £1.5 billion, impacting the on-trade at a similar level seen during the 2022 COVID-19 Omicron surge.
Trade body UK Hospitality is urging the transport secretary to find a settlement which could lead to calling off strikes across December and January, while further data figures reveal over a third of UK hospitality businesses could fold in early 2023 from the cost-of-doing-business crisis.
“Businesses have already seen mass cancellations which won’t be rescheduled, costing the sector billions in lost sales,” said UK Hospitality Chief Executive, Kate Nicholls. “The Christmas period is not just good for businesses, but the most lucrative time for staff where they can benefit from additional overtime and higher levels of tips due to excess demand.
“It’s time that the government proactively brings all partners to the table to deliver a solution that protects the nation’s workers and hospitality delegates this Christmas.”