Hospitality faces "real possibility of collapse"

Friday 20 March 2020

An industry meeting for restaurants and hotels was held earlier this week to discuss the impact of the novel coronavirus.

Attended by a handful of deputies and civil servants, the meeting, organised by the Chamber Hospitality Group, was an opportunity for those in the industry to express concerns about the different problems they are facing as the pandemic escalates.

COVID-19 has already seen a number of cancellations which will hit the hospitality industry hard, such as the announcement Liberation Day is going to get dialled back, and the first cruise ship of the season won't be coming. 

1/2 Guernsey is still in the containment phase. For the time being there is no reason why those not in vulnerable groups should not go shopping or eat out. But they must heed the public health advice to practise good hygiene and social distancing.

— Charles Parkinson (@armoricana) March 18, 2020

While islanders technically can eat out, many are being very cautious. 

 Pictured: Alan and Aine Sillett from the Duke of Normandie. 

Alan Sillett, the Head of the Chamber group, said as corona virus spreads around the world, the industry faced the very real possibility of collapse.

"The deputies who were [at the meeting] seemed very understanding of the problems our industry was encountering, ie, cancellations, falling demand, falling revenue, staffing levels to think about etc," he said, "they said they will do their best to help local businesses, but we will have to wait and see the specifics with regards to what they actually do.

"We need to have clear and supportive leadership from the States, as we are having to make decisions on a daily basis to try and protect our customers, our teams and our businesses. As every day passes our industry faces the very real possibility of collapse and our focus is to protect and help the people who work with us. Information on government's intentions on the financial help available to business and for those who will inevitably lose their jobs is vital so that we help, guide and advise our staff."

Yesterday in the States, Deputy Gavin St Pier, who was at the meeting earlier in the week, announced a number of measures the government will be taking to try and help the local economy in the face of the crisis. You can read more about them here. 

For now, if you are not experiencing symptoms and have not recently returned to the island, you are free to go out to restaurants or hotels for a meal, however public health are advising people practice 'social distancing'.

Further details are expected to be released on Friday regarding pub and nightclub opening times. 

Pictured top: restaurants and hotels are already suffering at the hands of cancellations.