Institute of Hospitality Chief Executive Peter Ducker shares his opinion on the impact of #Brexit

The nation has spoken, and we have to live with the outcome.

‘ Keep Calm and Carry On’ has never been more apt as the UK opts out of the EU

The great and good have already called for stability and of course we at the Institute of Hospitality echo that sentiment. The hospitality industry has demonstrated its’ resilience time and again, and will, I am sure, do so now. 

In the short term, hospitality in the UK may prosper as the weaker pound makes us a more affordable destination, and more Brits may choose to stay at home – rain or shine.  

Longer term, a major concern has to be for our UK workforce given that we have a history of recruiting hospitality staff from Europe.

Most importantly, it is essential that the UK Government and those involved in negotiating our future place in the world bear hospitality in mind. In terms of numbers employed, tax take and contribution to GDP ours is a major industry – the 4th largest by employment terms in the UK.  In many parts of the UK hospitality is the lifeblood of the regional economy. It is vital that the impact of new trade arrangements are considered by those at the negotiating table.

Our members who work internationally will be watching the UK situation unfold with interest, and we will be monitoring the reaction both from those within the EU and those outside and reporting back to members. In the meantime, we remain optimistic and prepared to undertake the task at hand – educating and supporting the development of world class hospitality managers and their businesses.

Institute of Hospitality EU Referendum survey results…

A slim majority of UK hospitality managers will vote to stay in the EU, according to a survey by the Institute of Hospitality.

Just over half of respondents (52.4%) said they would vote to stay in the EU, while more than a third (36.3%) said they would vote to leave, and 11.3% remained undecided.

Make sure you are registered to vote on the 23 June

A little more than half (50.6%) of respondents thought that the UK hospitality industry would suffer outside the EU, while nearly one third (32.7%) thought that it would thrive.  16.7% of respondents were not sure either way.

The majority of respondents (53.8%) thought that employment was the key issue for the UK hospitality industry when voting in the EU referendum.

The next most important issue was tourism/customer demand (29.4%), while smaller numbers of respondents considered sovereignty (7.6%), the economy (5.9%) and red tape (3.3%) as the key issues for the UK hospitality sector.

Commenting on the results, Peter Ducker, chief executive of the Institute of Hospitality, said: “More than two thirds of our members are senior managers and our survey has revealed strong points of view on both sides of the debate. For those who are still undecided on how to vote on 23 June, we have reports and research relevant to hospitality, travel and tourism available to read and download from our homepage.”

The above survey results are based on 273 responses to an email survey sent to UK Institute of Hospitality members on 11 May 2016.

To determine if you are eligible to vote or registered check the GOV.UK website for further information.

How will #Brexit affect you and your hospitality business? The Institute of Hospitality weighs in

UK members of the Institute of Hospitality, like many in the UK, want to make an informed decision in the forthcoming EU referendum on 23 June. However, a lack of clear information on the referendum, often referred to as ‘Brexit’ or the ‘In Out’ referendum or campaign, has left voters baffled.

In or Out? Our articles can help you decide

In a carefully considered and informative article, the Institute’s editor, Ben Walker, examines the arguments both for – and against – a British exit from the EU, and obtains input from hospitality industry experts.

Read the article, Should we stay or should we go?, today and, no matter what your opinion, tell us whether you plan on voting to stay or go (or are undecided) in our quick 5 Second Survey which will be emailed to all members. We’ll share the results of the survey soon.

Need further clarification about how different associations and ‘think tanks’ believe our industry will be affected? The Institute has compiled a free resource to provide opinion gathered from other organisations to inform members. Access the article and links, EU referendum: further reading, HERE.