“The news of the decision by the Northern Ireland Executive this evening to increase restrictions on the hotel and wider hospitality sector have not come as a surprise. Since the arrival of the Omicron variant, there has been considerable concern within the sector, with the uncertainty of the last month taking a real toll. Lack of clarity and difficulties with the implementation of Covid Status Certification checks heightened tensions in what was already an anxious climate.
Over the last week, there has been engagement with business sectors and the dialogue has focused on what is feasible in terms of trading. The industry has been supported in the past, and we will continue to work with government to obtain support, and outline issues around the viability and sustainability of the trading framework. A scheme is being developed, but without intervention from the Treasury, anything of a meaningful nature may not be possible.
The Executive’s plan includes the reintroduction of social distancing, return of table service and a maximum table size of six. The finer details are yet to be clarified and testing is to be encouraged. The understanding is that enforcement on face coverings will be strengthened which is welcomed.
Nightclubs are to close on the 26th December. The understanding is that the Executive will meet to review this position on the 30th December 2021and may introduce further mitigations in the coming weeks depending on the health situation.
The hotel industry has in effect not been able to trade under normal conditions since March 2020. Many thought that we were moving beyond the COVID-19 crisis but once again we are moving into a period of increased restrictions. The hotel sector has shown its resilience and ability to adapt over the last nineteen months. These are attributes that the sector will need to draw upon for the foreseeable future.
As always, the health of guests and staff remain the primary concern of hoteliers. The industry will continue to try to work within this new framework and hope that the future will bring better times for the sector and society as a whole”.
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