Hospitality in seasonal staff push

DEMAND for hospitality workers is rising as restaurants and hotels count on a strong holiday season to make up for a quiet Christmas.

Official retail spending forecasts out today predict fairly flat Christmas sales for shops.

But hospitality operators say that festive bookings are strong and summer expectations are high.

Clubs Queensland says renewed confidence in regional areas has boosted optimism.

Figures to be released by the National Retail Association today say shoppers are expected to spend $9.4 billion in Queensland during the sixweek Christmas trading period starting this weekend.

That’s up just 2.2 per cent from last year.

Nationally, the forecast is for $48 billion, up from $46.6 billion. NRA chief executive Dominique Lamb said despite sluggish retail spending, Aussie retailers would be busy from next week to December 31.

“Retailers have been preparing for months, recruiting extra staff who can take care of the extra foot traffic, help indecisive consumers find the right gift, as well as keep those piles of crumpled clothes and muddled up racks under control.”

Turnover in restaurant and catering was up 3 per cent this year to $26 billion.