This afternoon I attended a virtual event organised by the Worshipful Company of Entrepreneurs and the Central London Alliance to petition for a minister for the hospitality sector. The session was hosted by Jon Hammond who interviewed a panel of experts from the sector including Kate Nicholls, OBE - CEO, UK Hospitality, Cyrus Todiwala OBE, DL, proprietor of CafĂ© Spice NamastĂ© and a celebrity television chef, Pervin Todiwala, who is at the centre of one of the most dynamic and enduring family businesses in the UK’s £3 billion Asian cuisine industry, Tony Matharu, founder and Chairman of Integrity International Group and a former "Hotelier of the Year", Andrew Richardson, managing director of Home House Collection which features London's most exclusive private members' club and Claire Bosi of Chef and Restaurant magazine.
Kate Nichols started the discussions by explaining that the hospitality sector has an annual activity of around £139 billion, roughly the size of the defence budget, is the third largest employer in the UK, and the third largest exporter with around 39% of income from foreign visitors. £1 in every £3 spent goes back as revenue to the Chancellor raising around £40 billion in tax revenues. Until recently the sector was represented by 5 trade associations but these have now been rolled into one. Currently the sector interacts with 3 ministers which makes bringing together a coordinated approach more difficult. Kate pointed out the importance of a single minister with a team of civil servants behind him to galvanise support.
Claire Bosi first raised the petition for a single “Minister for Hospitality” in October 2020 which now has over 190,000 signatures. She pointed out that UK hospitality was now respected around the world, and the sector needs investment to attract tourists back to the UK after the pandemic. The debate in Parliament for a minister will take place at 4.30pm on 11th January 2021.
The other speakers drew attention to the importance of the hospitality sector in terms of either short or long term career opportunities, and the diversity of those employed in the sector. Hospitality will be key to stimulating new businesses as part of the recovery after the pandemic.
The importance of the hospitality sector both to City businesses and the livery movement was underlined and those wishing to join me in supporting the petition for a “Minister for Hospitality” should click on the link below.
https://petition.parliament.uk/petitions/552201
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