'We're on a cliff-edge' - NI hospitality sector facing a mountain of redundancies without date to return
First Minister says hotels can take advance bookings "at risk" in meantime
Hospitality chiefs are pushing the Executive for a time-frame on a return to business from lockdown so that they can "properly prepare" for customer bookings.
Northern Ireland's five-step road-map to recovery does not contain dates and in this plan, pubs, restaurants and hotels would be the last businesses to open their doors.
At their daily media briefing yesterday, the First and Deputy First Ministers said while they could not provide any dates, hotels could start taking bookings “at risk” in the meantime.
In reply to a question from Downtown Radio and Cool FM, Arlene Foster said: “We realise the critical position they find themselves in.
“Pubs and restaurants, self-catering accommodation and hotels.
“And we do recognise hotels and self-catering accommodation are slightly different in so far that they need advance booking which is why we are saying today they can take those bookings at risk and that when are in a position to give indicative dates then they can move ahead with that.
“Diane Dodds, the Economy Minister, will bring forward more guidance on this next week – she has a recovery task force set up in that sector of the economy and I have no doubt that she will be speaking to them on how to move forward.”
Colin Neill, Chief Executive of Hospitality Ulster, said he welcomed the fact that they were “on the radar” of the Executive and that there was at least some movement.
But he warned that the industry was on a cliff-edge and facing tens of thousands of redundancies.
In an interview with Downtown and Cool, he said: “There is no money in our industry to contribute anything – people are borrowing heavily just to survive.
“It is welcome we are on the radar of the First and Deputy First Minister and the NI Executive.
“We look forward to more announcements next week – but those announcements must include dates.”
Janice Gault, chief executive of Northern Ireland Hotels Federation was disappointed the announcement did not go far enough: "Advising hotels that they can take advance bookings without a date only adds to the confusion around when hotels can actually open, “ she said..
"As an industry, we are keen to open in a safe and secure manner, giving staff and customers reassurance.''
The NIHF represents luxury lodgings including the Grand Central and Merchant in Belfast, Galgorm resort in Ballymena in Co Antrim and Bishop's Gate in Londonderry.
Ms Gault added: "Taking a hotel booking on an 'on spec' basis without any agreed pathway is a far-from-ideal situation.
"It makes it very difficult to plan, budget and set guidelines for the sector.''