Daily Mirror (Northern Ireland)
HEARTBREAK HOTELS
More than 3,700 weddings on hold as couples wait for end to lockdown
THOUSANDS of couples are waiting to get married as Covid restrictions keep Northern Ireland hotels shut.
More than 3,700 weddings have been booked but venue bosses fear people will pull the plug on big receptions if lockdown rules are not eased soon.
The figures emerged as Economy Minister Diane Dodds said: “The best way to support businesses is to get them operating again.”
NORTHERN Ireland hotels are facing a nuptials nightmare because of a backlog of more than 3,700 weddings.
Receptions already booked could generate business-saving income for under-pressure venues – but only if they get the green light to open.
The figure emerged as Economy Minister Diane Dodds warned Government bailouts “cannot last indefinitely” and “the best way to support businesses is to get them operating again”.
Hotel owners fear couples waiting to tie the knot will cancel their receptions and move to smaller venues if they do not get a definitive date for their big day soon.
Northern Ireland 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 July 3, 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 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.
Mrs Dodds said a number of sectors in the economy have been “terribly impacted” by the pandemic.
The Executive is set to meet tomorrow to discuss further relaxations with indications reopening dates for various sectors may be announced.
Asked in the Assembly yesterday whether she is planning any additional support schemes for businesses, Mrs Dodds responded that the best thing would be for them to be able to reopen as soon as possible.
She told MLAS: “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. “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 added: “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
Wedding market is a significant income stream STEPHEN MELDRUM YESTERDAY
cannot keep people locked down in their homes.” The minister published an economic recovery action plan in February, but warned it will not be completed in one year alone.
Mrs Dodds was speaking after a survey conducted by the Northern Ireland Hotels Federation found that hoteliers would need an average of 17 days notice to reopen.
They also have positions for more than 2,500 staff which they will need to recruit prior to reopening.
Figures show there are currently 143 hotels, with 9,580 bedrooms, certified by Tourism Northern Ireland with businesses now on their third lockdown.
NIHF chief Janice Gault said: “By March 31, 2021, hotels were 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 reopening, the pressures on the sector remain high.
“The federation surveyed its members to gauge their thoughts on the reopening 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 the hotel sector will need to recruit over 2,500 staff prior to reopening.
“This is not a short process as staff have to be selected, interviewed and trained.
“Consumer sentiment indicates 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.”
Mr 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.”
Meanwhile, there were no further deaths linked to Covid-19 reported in Northern Ireland yesterday. Another 112 cases of the virus were notified by the Department of Health. Yesterday morning there were 77 Covid-positive patients in hospital, of whom seven were in intensive care.
We cannot keep people locked down in their homes DIANE DODDS YESTERDAY