BHA expands membership

The British Hospitality Association now represents every publicly quoted UK hotel company, according to its annual report, published this week.

Groups that joined during the year include Macdonald Hotels, Principal Hotels, Hand Picked Hotels, Hanover International, Marston Hotels, Cendant and Citadines; individual hotels included the Celtic Manor in Newport, Le Manoir aux Quat'Saisons in Oxfordshire, and the Four Seasons hotel in Canary Wharf, London.

New contract catering groups to join included Accent, Everson and Lexington. In addition, two restaurant groups - Wagamama and Wiltons - also joined, as well as more than 2,500 affiliated members through two Welsh tourism companies.

Chief executive Bob Cotton said the difficulties experienced by the industry during 2001 had encouraged the Government to recognise the fundamental importance of tourism and hospitality to the UK economy.

This in turn had given the association a higher profile, which had helped to increase its membership to 30,000 businesses.

Source: Caterer & Hotelkeeper magazine, 20-26 June 2002