UKHospitality Chief Executive Allen Simpson calls on hotels and the wider hospitality sector to keep the pressure on Government, arguing that a reduction in VAT to 10% is essential to drive investment, growth and a more competitive future for the industry.
I hope most hotels – from big chains to boutiques – are familiar by now with the #VATsTheProblem campaign.
The petition https://www.vatstheproblem.co.uk/ launched alongside it is now well past the 330,000 mark, but we simply must keep up the momentum by getting as many people as possible to sign it.
Hotels of all sizes will benefit if we’re able to encourage the Government to cut hospitality VAT from the current 20% to a level that would be a catalyst for growth – 10%.
And so will the wider hospitality sector, which chef and pub operator Tom Kerridge highlighted when he launched the campaign in the summer with an open letter to our industry:
We know that the key to unleashing hospitality’s potential to grow and thrive into the future comes through a VAT cut. We’re making sure Government knows that too, and we need your help.
As well as UKHospitality, the British Beer and Pub Association, the British Institute of Innkeeping and CODE Hospitality are all backing #VATsTheProblem, saying 10% VAT is fair for hospitality. Because at 20% the UK is at a serious disadvantage compared to Europe, where VAT is typically between 8% and 12%.
So all you hotel operators, please encourage your guests, staff, suppliers, family and friends – they’re all eligible – to put their names to the petition.
And to help you spread the word, just add this link https://www.vatstheproblem.co.uk/ to your emails, socials and website, and make use of our campaign toolkit and online shop to download free campaign collateral.
The shop https://vatstheproblem.myshopify.com/ currently features tent cards; beer mats; cards to put down with receipts, place on reception areas or in rooms; and posters for both front of house and staff rooms.
We know that the Government’s listening, but we can’t let up in our efforts to turn listening into the sort of action that will mean fair taxation for hotels, and which gives them the confidence to start investing in growth once more.
Allen Simpson
Chief Executive
UKHospitality