No date yet for when weddings can take place in North
Receptions booked in hosteleries across the region could generate business-saving income for under-pressure venues but only if they get the green light to open, bosses say.
The figure emerged as Economy Minister Diane Dodds warned government bailouts “cannot last indefinitely” and that “the best way to support businesses is to get them operating again”.
Hotel owners fear couples waiting to tie the knot will cancel their after-wedding do and move to smaller venues if they do not get a definitive date for their big day celebrations soon.
NI Hotels Federation President Stephen Meldrum said the “wedding market is a significant income stream for the hotel market often representing up to 35% of total turnover”.
He added: “There are currently 3,702 weddings booked in hotels up until the end of July 2021.
“Many couples who were to marry last year have moved into summer 2021 and the concern is that with restricted attendance numbers they will cancel or simply move to a smaller venue.
“Hotels are also currently prohibited from doing wedding show rounds which only exacerbates an already fraught situation.
“Weddings with receptions were allowed to take place from 3rd July 2020 with risk assessments in place.
“There was guidance in place which was the premise for the staging of weddings throughout any permitted opening. Currently receptions are not permitted.
“The new pathway suggested that receptions will be slower to return with a restriction on numbers when their prohibition is lifted.
“Three quarters of those who stage weddings do not think that this is viable for them.
“A number have also indicated that without a restoration of the wedding market under the risk assessed model, the viability of their entire operation is questionable.”
There have been some minor relaxations of the strict rules which have been in effect in the region since December but most businesses remain closed.
Diane Dodds said a number of sectors in the economy have been “terribly impacted” by the coronavirus pandemic, noting that there is a backlog of more than 3,000 weddings to take place in the hotel sector.
The Executive is set to meet on Thursday to discuss further relaxations with indications that reopening dates for various sectors may be announced.
Asked in the Assembly on Tuesday whether she is planning any additional support schemes for businesses, Mrs Dodds said the best thing would be for businesses to be able to reopen as soon as possible.
“Whilst grant support has been a lifeline for many businesses, it cannot last indefinitely, the best way to support businesses is to get them operating again,” she told MLAs.
“I am of the view that the safe reopening of businesses should happen as soon as possible.
“They need the ability to plan and that is absolutely hugely important.
“We will of course continue to support and sustain business but reopening is key to making the economy work.
“Many of those businesses, particularly retail, really need to see that date, they need to see that timeline … many of them are just getting in spring stock.”
Asked what reasons were being voiced against the reopening of society, Mrs Dodds responded: “I wouldn’t want to pre-empt any executive discussion or discuss the business of the executive but our community here in Northern Ireland has suffered enormously through Covid … so of course there is a lot of nervousness but we have a tremendous vaccine rollout programme, we have transmission rates that are now very low and we cannot keep people locked down in their homes.”
Mrs Dodds published an economic recovery action plan in February, but warned the recovery will not be completed in one year alone.
The minister was speaking after a survey conducted by the Northern Ireland Hotels Federation found that hoteliers would need an average of 17 days notice to re-open and have positions for over 2,500 staff which they will need to recruit prior to reopening.
They say there are currently 143 hotels with 9,580 bedrooms certified by Tourism Northern Ireland with businesses now on their third lockdown.
NIHF CEO Janice Gault said: “By 31st March 2021 hotels will have been closed for 96 continuous days with no indicative dates for reopening.
“This is the longest period of lockdown since the onset of the pandemic. Trading over the last year has been challenging with only 120 days of trading, 38 of these with a curfew in place.
“As society moves along the pathway to re-opening, the pressures on the sector remain high. The Federation surveyed its members to gauge their thoughts on the re-opening process.
“The biggest concern is staffing with the majority of properties indicating a need for recruitment.
“While not all were able to give definite numbers, the data collected indicates that the hotel sector will need to recruit over 2,500 staff prior to re-opening.
“This is not a short process as staff have to be selected, interviewed and trained.
“Consumer sentiment indicates that there is considerable pent-up demand for staycations with hotels remaining the most popular option.
“However, without an opening date, it is impossible to commence any recruitment process and there is a real risk that if hotels open under the stress of poor staffing levels, they won’t be able to satisfy customer needs and therefore they won’t be able to realise the full potential of staycations.”
NIHF President Stephen Meldrum added: “Staffing is just one of the many concerns hoteliers have.
“Last year, one of the restrictions that had most impact on trading was the curfew.
“A 10.30pm closure resulted in a fall of 30% in food and beverage revenue.
“The issue of household mixing and maximum table size also remains a challenge, particularly as people will want to reconnect with their wider family circle and friends.
“Putting in place a risk assessed model or increasing the numbers of those who can mix would be a positive development.”
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