Two leading hoteliers in the north and north-east have teamed up with other big names in Scottish hospitality for a promotional drive aimed at helping the sector though another tough winter.
Carol Fowler, who owns Banchory Lodge Hotel in Aberdeenshire, and Phil Scott, managing director of Links House in Dornoch, are both getting behind the initiative.
It is estimated the industry employs around 220,000 across Scotland.
The new Help Out Hospitality campaign covers every aspect of the supply chain, including food and drink producers.
It is led by Glasgow-based food and drink procurement firms The Full Range.
The sector really is on ‘life support’ if help is not provided to trade more efficiently through the winter trading period.”
Barry Knight, director, The Full Range.
About 50 hospitality firms and organisations have already joined the drive to support each other in another battle for survival amid rapidly escalating costs.
They aim to create enticing consumer deals for meals and overnight stays this winter, a time which typically sees a drop in business, and help drive their footfall and bookings.
Ms Fowler said: “The hospitality industry has never faced such challenging times. Proactive activity such as this is positive and refreshing”.
Mr Scott added: “We have many synergies together, through associated business.
“It’s a very positive contribution to our sector, combining resources and promoting Scottish businesses collectively.”
Other hoteliers involved include Richard Drummond, owner of McKays Hotel in Pitlochry, who said: “Help is precisely what the hospitality and tourism industry requires after the past three years, closures, uncertainties, staffing issues and now spiralling costs.
“The Full Range came up with the Help Out Hospitality initiative to support our industry, which the scheme sets out to achieve.
“It not only helps our industry, but it also helps everyone our suppliers, and the end user.
“Hopefully, this will drive additional revenue to our businesses and offer our guests great savings, which is a win-win for all.”
Energy is the biggest reported cost rise on top of massive increases in food and labour bills this winter.
Business energy bills are now about 400% higher than a year ago, food bills are up around 20% and labour costs have increased by some 10%.
Rising interest rates an added pressure
Meanwhile, the Bank of England’s biggest interest rate rise since 1989 – up by 0.75 percentage points to 3% – is expected to force consumers to further tighten their belts amid spiralling living costs.
A new commission-free Help Out Hospitality website is now live for businesses to promote offers and attract direct bookings.
Barry Knight, director, The Full Range, said: “Scotland’s hospitality industry employs around 220,000 people, which makes up around 8.6% of the country’s total jobs.
“The current cost-of-living crisis is having a significant impact on each and every operator, regardless of business size.
“The sector really is on ‘life support’ if help is not provided to trade more efficiently through the winter trading period.
“We think our new ‘Help Out Hospitality’ (scheme) will go some way to supporting businesses where they need it most at this critical time.”
Mr Knight added: “We’ve been able to negotiate a support package across a wide range of suppliers and manufacturers which allows our partner restaurants to run promotions throughout the month of November, in turn encouraging diners to eat out and sustain footfall at a particularly vulnerable time for hospitality.
“By involving suppliers in the process we can drive meaningful change – generating discounts at the beginning of the process, while removing commission at the other end.”
Conversation