Countless hospitality businesses no longer exist, and the toll will get worse before it gets better. But get better it will and doubtless leading the march to recovery will be trade body UKHospitality.
UKHospitality led by Chief Executive Kate Nicholls since the onset of Covid-19 has been devoted to protecting our industry. There are far too many instances to isolate one, and collectively they have made a difference. A huge difference that has saved countless businesses and jobs.
The past three and a half months or so through closure due to Covid-19 has seen hospitality lose billions in revenues, brand names disappear and hundreds of thousands of jobs lost. Keeping these issues front of mind with the Government and across the media, abating even more damage, UKHospitality has campaigned tenaciously and tirelessly for the benefit of all in hospitality.
American journalist Michelle Dean said: “Crisis forces commonality of purpose on one another.” The ongoing Covid-19 crisis would certainly seem to have galvanised the UK hospitality industry with a commonality of purpose, and that has undoubtedly been inspired by action, led by Kate Nicholls and UKHospitality.
So, the question now has to be – Is hospitality ready for one for all?
There are many hospitality industry bodies and most if not all do a good job, they serve the purposes of their members. But how much stronger would the UK hospitality industry be if all came under the umbrella of UKHospitality?
One industry body that served the interests of all.
The practicalities of such a change are massive, and it would need to start with consensus of all or a substantial majority of the existing industry bodies.
Sectors may also say that they need their own industry body for hotels, restaurants, caterers, pubs.
There are many other arguments that might be put up that sub-segments need a voice, management, geographic areas, professions, the list is a long one.
The litmus test however is the ability to improve the hospitality industry for the good of most within it. We have all watched that litmus test live over the past three and a half months and the results are apparent.
The question however still remains… Is hospitality ready for one for all?
Reopening: Measure twice cut once
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