Here's our manifesto for the hospitality industry
Another General Election looms. What should the hospitality industry expect from an incoming government, whatever its political colour?
First, we must be realistic. However we criticise the present administration for its over-regulatory zeal, we must be thankful that Chris Smith, the secretary of state for the industry's sponsoring department, has lasted the course of the entire Parliament and has got to know our industry so well. That has been more valuable than most people would believe.
We've also had the benefit of a vibrant economy for the past four years or so. When the economy is flourishing, so do tourism and hospitality. This, again, is something we often forget.
But, of course, there are downsides. The high sterling exchange rate with the euro and other currencies is harming the tourism industry as much as manufacturing. The number of Western European visitors (who are half the total) has declined in each of the past three years. It's unlikely that British Tourist Authority forecasts for 2003 will be met.
Nor do the poor state of the country's rail system and the high cost of fuel help business and leisure travel. Many hospitality businesses, particularly those in the more remote regions of the country, are being damaged by the poor state of the transport infrastructure.
And the widespread belief persists that tourism still isn't taken seriously enough - whether by the RDAs in England, the Learning and Skills Councils, or central government.
In fact, the Government's Tomorrow's Tourism strategy acknowledged the role that the industry plays in the country's economy. Declan Swan (Viewpoint, Caterer, 22 February) highlighted the unfair funding of catering courses compared with, say, construction and hairdressing. This is a long-standing issue which must be addressed.
The miserable £30m Government grant to the BTA is another example which must also be addressed. And we have only to look at Scotland and Wales (it is significant that they have their own devolved governments) to see a more positive and sympathetic approach to the industry.
So, for an incoming government, the industry has six key requests.
l We have a critical staff and skill shortage. Through Springboard, the Hospitality Training Foundation, Excellence Through People, Investors in People and other programmes, the industry is making a concerted effort to improve skills and learning in the industry, introduce better employment practices and reduce labour turnover.
What it also needs is a commitment from the government to fund catering college courses as equitably as other industries. Then, we will have more, rather than fewer, colleges offering catering and hospitality courses.
This is a real issue. At present, the industry is losing out at a time when it has never had a more urgent need for college-trained people.
l The plethora of new rules and regulations, mostly in the employment area, are a nightmare for employers, and particularly for the 300,000 small businesses in this labour-intensive industry. So can we, please, have fewer regulations and more time to consider their implications?
For example, the regulations concerning the Climate Change Levy, due to be introduced in April, have not yet been published at the time of writing. Businesses cannot cope with such short-termism.
l We need government to encourage local authorities to speed up, simplify and be more understanding in the planning processes. Too many authorities appear to want to stop developments, rather than encourage local businesses to bring more wealth to their locality through expansion and improvements.
l As Guy Hands pointed out in the Savoy lecture on 6 February (Viewpoint, Caterer, 8 February), Government funding of the BTA is pitiful compared with the millions it pours into less successful industries. The BTA has had to close overseas offices and rationalise - just at the time when visitor numbers, from Europe at least, are down. This is a classic marketing blunder.
l The various hotel grading schemes, though harmonised in England, still cause great public puzzlement and misunderstanding. This is not helpful. An incoming government should start a debate on their development.
Statutory registration, or a statutory licence to practise, may not be the best answer - and would mean more regulation - but raising standards throughout the hospitality industry is a key requirement for the future from every point of view.
l Similarly, we need to debate the role of the English Tourism Council and its relationship with the regional tourist boards in England. Again, Scotland and Wales have shown the way with a thoroughgoing review of their tourist board function.
Finally - and this may be the most important point of all - we need a government that can guarantee decent weather during its term of office. Is this too much to hope for?
Bob Cotton is chief executive of the British Hospitality Association
