Hoteliers call for more government support during meeting with Nadhim Zahawi

Hoteliers from across the UK have held a private meeting with Conservative party chairman Nadhim Zahawi calling for greater support from the government.

The forum was made up of hoteliers who collectively employ 5,300 employees and share a predicted turnover of at least £231m for 2023, as well as Zahawi himself, Conservative MP for Stratford-upon-Avon.

Delegates included Danny Pecorelli, managing director at Exclusive Collection; Julian Tomlin, managing director at Macdonald Hotels; and Andrew Grahame, chief executive of Farncombe Estate.

The event took place at the first Luxury Boutique Hotels & Restaurants (LBHR) roundtable for senior hotel operators at the Macdonald Alveston Manor in Stratford-upon-Avon on 4 November and was chaired by Gregor Ritchie, founder of LBHR.

Discussion topics included how business rates and high levels of VAT were posing a barrier to the industry's recovery.

Hoteliers called for a reform of business rates, a relaxation of immigration rules, as well as changes to employment law and planning laws.

Pecorelli told Zahawi: "I've got planning going through in Horsham in West Sussex with zero objections and the whole community is on board. It's quite a crucial project for our business, but it's been deferred three times due to lack of resources at the planning office, and we're just grinding to a halt."

Tomlin raised concerns about energy prices, adding: "We don't want to get to a tipping point with our businesses. You hear on the news about the leisure clubs that are closing their pools through the winter – it's super serious and it's super time-sensitive."

Reflecting on the forum, Ritchie added: "I am delighted that LBHR has been able to create a unique opportunity for some of the country's finest hoteliers to gain advice, support and insight from Nadhim Zahawi, a respected member of the UK government.

"We felt that Mr Zahawi really embraced the issues that we as hoteliers face and we look forward to his continued support as we try to press for resolution over some of these matters."

LBHR was founded in 2020 and is a membership platform for independent UK hotels and high-end restaurants. The next forum will take place in January.