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The latest round of rail strikes in the UK is expected to cost the hotel industry £387 million ($489 million), UKHospitality has warned.
A new wave of strikes is set to push losses to the industry past the £5 billion ($6.3 billion) mark since the dispute began in 2022 – and nearly £750 million in 2024 alone.
The trade body said the current series of strike action between Friday 5 April and today (Monday 8 April) will cost the industry around £387m.
Kate Nicholls, chief executive of UKHospitality, said of the impact of the strike: “A strike is never a good time, but disruption of this kind will be particularly devastating. Families who wanted to enjoy the Easter holidays will now find their plans disrupted while trying to generate much needed The hotel industry that is selling will see a reduction in customer numbers.
“April marks a £3.4 billion annual increase in wages and business expenses for the hospitality industry, and businesses are hoping for a successful Easter to help cover these new costs. That prospect now looks increasingly difficult.
Nicholls added that there was an “urgent” need for all parties to get back to the negotiating table and find a solution.
“The hospitality industry continues to suffer collateral damage in this dispute and puts at risk the many ways the hospitality industry delivers for the UK – by delivering great experiences, employing millions of people and investing billions of pounds into the economy.”
The need for open discussion
Michael Kill, chief executive of the Nighttime Industry Association (NTIA), also commented on how UK nighttime businesses have been affected by the dispute, which “exacerbates” all the difficulties currently facing the industry.
In the UK, England and Scotland saw a large number of factory closures last year, with lost revenue, operating costs and rising taxes all being the main reasons.
Kiir has been outspoken in his pleas for emergency support from the British government.
Regarding the latest round of strikes, he said that the strike “not only affects livelihoods, but also jeopardizes the safety and well-being of employees and customers, who have to go home late at night”.
Keir called for “open discussions” to find long-term solutions that balance workers’ rights and the needs of the night-time economy.
He said: “There is no doubt that ongoing strike action is taking a toll on businesses and exacerbating the challenges currently facing the industry. This cannot continue if we are to recover from a four-year hangover. “
In February, the NTIA launched a campaign to save the trade in partnership with the Institute of Hospitality (IOH).
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