BHA launches Adopt an MP Campaign

The launch of the BHA's Adopt an MP programme is the start of the association's grassroots campaign, aimed at winning the support of every MP and every local councillor for the hospitality economy. This week, ministers, MPs, MSPs and Welsh Assembly members and local councillors will receive a copy of a new BHA report Hospitality: driving local economies, with reports for Scotland and Wales, which identifies the hospitality industry's contribution to the 406 local authorities throughout the country. The report shows that while Westminster has the highest number of hospitality jobs in the country (86,000), and is easily the biggest in terms of wages and profits. The Isles of Scilly and areas in Cumbria and in the south-west are the local authorities most dependent on the success of the hospitality industry. This reflects the fact that the share of hospitality jobs is generally highest in more rural, tourism-orientated economies. As a result, while almost two in every ten employees in Kensington and Chelsea work in hospitality (16.8%), the percentage is almost as high in the Isles of Scilly (15.9%), South Lakeland (15.7%), Eden (15.6%) and Scarborough (14.9%). Ufi Ibrahim, chief executive of the BHA, said: "These figures show how dependent many local authority areas are on the hospitality industry. "This is why we are urging our members – indeed all businesses – to ensure that their MP and their local councillors fully understand the contribution that hospitality already plays – and can play in the future – in the economic success of their locality and of the nation. "The support of members in this campaign will make a real difference to the level of understanding by local authorities of the industry's economic and social importance – and its contribution to local life and prosperity." The hospitality industry directly employs 2.4m people and indirectly a further 1.2m, contributing over £46bn in wages and profits to local economies every year. It forecasts that the total number of jobs in the industry could rise by over 475,000 by 2020 to 2.8m, but only if barriers are lifted. It points out that the high rate of VAT on accommodation and attractions compared with all but two other EU member states, makes UK tourism uncompetitive with the rest of Europe. Mr Ibrahim warns that Britain's lack of price competitiveness with other major European countries represents a major hurdle and the report says that local authorities need to recognise that, at a time when international competition is so strong and so all pervasive, every local economy in the UK is now competing on a world – not a local stage. "The challenge now is to make sure that the government provides the right framework in which the industry can grow and create more jobs. "We want all politicians to recognise and support the industry as it continues to create jobs, deliver growth and helps to re-balance the UK economy."