National Hospitality Day celebrates businesses bouncing back after lockdown

Hotels, cafes, and restaurants are ambassadors for Denbighshire, providing a base for visitors to explore what we have to offer.

For locals too, a tea or coffee at a favourite cafe is the perfect place to catch up with friends. And so many of the big moments in our lives - birthdays, anniversaries, reunions - are celebrated at pubs and restaurants.

UKHospitality is partnering with a taskforce of the hospitality industry’s main trade associations, professional bodies and charities to call on the nation to support our beleaguered sector by visiting their favourite venue on September 18.

UKHospitality said: "National Hospitality Day will be a nationwide celebration of our brilliant and resilient hotels, restaurants, pubs, bars and foodservice outlets, and the suppliers that support them. It will be a showcase of all that’s great about UK hospitality; a collective shout-out for the places we’ve all missed; and a financial shot in the arm for a sector that’s been hit hardest by Covid. And it will provide a chance for the country to say “welcome back, we’ve missed you” by supporting its favourite places."

North Wales is one of those areas that relies on the tourism and hospitality industry.

Venues like Tyn Dwr Hall in Llangollen, are now making up for lost time and venue during the pandemic.

Tracey Owen at Tyn Dwr Hall, Llangollen

General Manager Tracey Owen said: “Lockdown restrictions hit the Welsh wedding industry extremely hard, but we adapted to fit our means, furloughing staff members and reviewing projects ready for our ‘re-emergence’. We looked at is as an opportunity to re-train and look at our processes and create efficiencies where possible.

“One highlight for us was the rallying together of Welsh wedding venues to form the Welsh Wedding Venue Alliance, of which Tyn Dwr Hall were founding members. The group has played an important part in liaising direct with Welsh Government on behalf of our couples and the support provided within this forum during those testing times has been invaluable. We have built on existing relationships to form stronger bonds within the industry.

“We kept a constant dialogue with those hardest hit, our couples, some of whom had to postpone not once or twice, but three times. The resumption of weddings was not only a relief but cause for huge celebration and we’re thrilled to be back doing what we do best.”

Many businesses have weathered the storm thanks to the dedication and adaptability of their owners and staff.

Jim Jones, MD of North Wales Tourism Ltd in Llanduddno..

Jim Jones, chief executive of North Wales Tourism, said: “The tourism and hospitality industry was among the economic sectors that has been hit hardest by the pandemic.

“I would like to pay tribute to the people working in the sector who have done everything they can to respond to the unprecedented challenges created by Covid.

“Many have diversified and found new ways of keeping their businesses afloat, whether that is through offering takeaway or delivery services.

“They have also worked like trojans and spent enormous amounts of money to make their premises Covid-secure.

“One of the biggest problems at the moment is a serious staffing shortage and recruitment is a real nightmare.

“There are a number of reasons for this, including Brexit which has led to the tap of European workers being turned off and the people who were working here before we left European Community returning home.

“Then there are others who found alternative employment while they were on furlough from pubs, hotels and restaurants that were forced to close during lockdown.

“The upshot is that we now have a dire shortage of staff and the result is that some businesses are unable to fully reopen because they do not have enough people to cater for the demand.

“After the nightmare we have all endured over the past 18 months, it is a cruel irony because demand in the tourism and hospitality industry has never been higher.

“The boom in staycations has led to a surge in visitors to North Wales and it is a shame that businesses that have suffered so much are being hamstrung in this way.

“On the plus side, our region has not lost any of its beauty or appeal in the last 18 months.

“It shouldn’t take long for us to regain our confidence as an outward-looking confident world class must-visit destination.

“The many reasons why people love North Wales have not gone away.

“That’s why I am confident that the tourism and hospitality industry can play a key role on the road to the region’s economic recovery."

Tyn Dwr Hall, Llangollen. Photo by Andrew Gale