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200 hospitality bosses urge government to scrap visitor levy plans
Bosses of hospitality firms including Haven, Whitbread and Hilton say the proposed visitor levy could mean at least £100 in added costs for UK holidaymakers
The bosses of Travelodge, IHG and Hilton are among 200 hospitality leaders who have urged government to scrap plans for a visitor levy in England.
In a letter to the chancellor, leading accommodation providers including Butlin’s, Haven, Merlin Entertainments, Parkdean Resorts, and Whitbread warned the proposed holiday tax will “hit families hardest, put jobs at risk and drain money from local businesses and communities”.
Travellers would have to fork up an extra £100 or more for a two-week holiday in the UK as a result of the proposed tax, which could force families to shorten trips or head overseas.
Local communities that rely heavily on tourism are particularly at risk of losing out, the letter stated.
Allen Simpson, chief executive of UKHospitality, said: “The impact of a Holiday Tax goes well beyond the people who provide accommodation. Fewer visitors mean lower spending at local businesses like restaurants, cafes, pubs, taxi firms and shops. In many places, it is tourist spending which keeps high streets alive, supporting the small businesses that define our communities.
“The UK’s hospitality sector is already under pressure, with rising business rates, energy costs, tax bills and employment costs. It already contributes billions of pounds in tax, through business rates, employment taxes and VAT, which at 20% is double the rate of competitors in France, Italy, Spain or Portugal.
“Do not turn the Great British break into a luxury. Scrap the holiday tax and back the families, workers and the businesses who make England worth visiting.”
Earlier this month, the accommodation sector was excluded from the government’s business rates U-turn despite facing some of the most severe increases in their bills.
Budget accommodation operators also raised concerns their sector could be disproportionately impacted by a visitor levy, with Larry Lipman, chairman at European hostel operator Safestay Hostels & Hotels, previously telling The Caterer: “What we’re all scared of is if they say £2 per bed, it’s going to kill us. Our travellers will go somewhere else.”
Ahead of November’s Budget, it was announced that mayors in England will be given the power to impose a “modest” charge on visitors staying overnight in hotels, bed and breakfasts, guest houses and holiday lets.
The government said funds raised from the charge could be invested in local transport, infrastructure and to support the visitor economy.
The move will also bring England in line with Scotland and Wales, which are already introducing similar taxes. Edinburgh is set to become the first city in Scotland to introduce a 5% overnight tax on hotel and Airbnb-style stays next July. In Wales, councils will have the power to charge a fee of £1.30 per person per night from April 2027.
Full list of signatories to the letter urging the chancellor to scrap England’s visitor levy
|
Business name |
Signatory |
|
91 Aparthotel Jesmond |
Gary Taylor |
|
Abbots Grange and Huffkins |
Richard Taee |
|
Achnabobane Farmhouse |
Neil Ockenden |
|
ANS Hospitality |
Alistair Sandall |
|
Arden House |
Mark Holliday |
|
Ashbourne House |
Ricardo and Fiona Gabbiadini |
|
Astwell Mill |
Mark Whitney |
|
Bailiffscourt Hotel & Spa |
Pontus Carminger |
|
Balcarres Guest House |
Carole Clarke |
|
BALPPA |
Paul Kelly |
|
Bedford Lodge Hotel & Spa |
Noel Byrne |
|
Beds and Bars Group |
Luke Knowles |
|
Beechwood Cottage B&B |
Jackie McDonagh |
|
Benhall Farm Holidays |
Carol Brewer |
|
Bewdley Hill House B&B |
David Haywood |
|
Bidfood UK |
Catherine Hinchcliff |
|
Blackpool Pleasure Beach Limited |
Amanda Thompson OBE |
|
Blue Swallow Guest House |
Alison Wood |
|
Bon Ami Guest House |
Dr Anil Shah |
|
Bramlies Bed & Breakfast |
Alison Demir |
|
Brend Collection |
Peter Brend |
|
British Educational Travel Association (BETA) |
Emma English |
|
Butlin’s |
Jon Hendry Pickup |
|
Butlin’s (Minehead) |
Craig Goodwin |
|
Butlin’s (Skegness) |
Andrew Leivers |
|
Casa Hotels Ltd |
Steve Perez |
|
Castle Glen Lodges |
Ewan Maxwell |
|
Castlewood Hotels |
Daniel Sangiuseppe |
|
Cedar Court Hotels |
Wayne Topley |
|
Centennial Hotel |
Stelios Andreou |
|
Chilgrove Farm Bed and Breakfast |
Simon Renwick |
|
Choughs Nest Hotel |
John Hodges |
|
Chyheira B&B |
Roy Smith |
|
Clarence Pier Southsea |
Jill Norman |
|
Clermont Hotel Group |
Gavin Taylor |
|
Cleveliot House B&B |
Jack Applebaum |
|
COMO Metropolitan London |
Rory Slater |
|
Congham Hall |
Nicholas Dickinson |
|
Corner Cottage, Wolsingham |
Jean Muckle |
|
Cornlee Bed & Breakfast |
Jayson Banham |
|
Cosy Wolf Ltd |
Lena Wolf |
|
Craggan |
Martyn Barrow |
|
Craigbuie Guesthouse |
Sharron Fernie |
|
Craigpark House B&B |
Kay Main |
|
Crealy Theme Park & Resort |
Josh Haywood |
|
Creekside Bed and Breakfast Faversham |
Sharon Gepheart |
|
Crescent Lodge Guest House |
Lee Roberts |
|
Dacre House B&B |
Clare Hawkins |
|
Dart Marina Hotel |
Paul Downing |
|
DEAN PARK GUEST HOUSE |
Robbie Hamilton |
|
Docklands Resturants and Bars |
Julie Gingell |
|
Donnington Group |
Andrew McKenzie |
|
Doubletree By Hilton York |
Sophie Dunn |
|
Edendale House |
Josie Batchelor |
|
Edward Bence Hotels LTD |
Lucinda Chamings |
|
Ellesmere House |
Melanie Cable-Alexander |
|
Elmbank York, Tapestry Collection by Hilton |
Stefan Micevski |
|
English Lakes Hotels, Resorts and Venues |
Matt Stanaway |
|
EUROC (European Resort Owners Coalition) |
Jane Gilmartin |
|
Firs Farm B&B |
Sarah Townsend |
|
Focus Hotels |
Devin Grosse |
|
Forge Holiday Group |
Graham Donoghue |
|
Fosse Farmhouse B&B |
Caron Cooper |
|
Fuller, Smith & Turner |
Simon Emeny |
|
Gallen-Treath Guest House |
Alicia Strickland |
|
Gardenside Lodge |
Gladys Bowen |
|
Gilpin Hotel and Lake House |
Helen Tappenden |
|
Glebe Farm B&B |
Timothy Hirst |
|
Glenlee Guest House |
Bob Forsberg |
|
Graceland Farm B&B |
Genette Zena Byford |
|
Gusto Pronto |
Roxane Marjoram |
|
Gutchpool B&B |
Rachel Hall |
|
Haven |
Simon Palethorpe |
|
High Farm Holiday Park Ltd |
Amy Hodgson |
|
Higher Wiscombe |
Lorna Handyside |
|
Highlander House |
Angus Campbell |
|
Hilton |
Steve Cassidy |
|
Hilton Cambridge City Centre |
Richard Finn |
|
Hilton Garden Inn Sunderland |
Gareth Freeman |
|
Hilton London Heathrow Airport Terminal 5 |
Jacqui Bagnall |
|
Hippodrome Casino |
Simon Thomas |
|
Holiday and Residential Parks Association (HARPA) |
Debbie Walker |
|
Holiday Inn Express Cambridge West - Cambourne |
Stefanie Garwood |
|
Holiday Inn Newcastle Jesmond |
Gary Taylor |
|
Horsley Hall |
Liz Curry |
|
Hospitality Association York (HAY) |
Stefan Micevski |
|
Hotel Gotham Newcastle |
Chris Thompson |
|
IHG Hotels & Resorts |
Karin Sheppard |
|
Imperial Hotel |
Grant Smith |
|
Imperial London Hotels |
Neil Braude |
|
Ingram House Bed and Breakfast |
Jane Levien |
|
Kinnaird Hotel |
John Deane Berry |
|
Lake District Hotels Association |
Clive Wilson |
|
Lammas Park House |
Fiona Deacon |
|
Langdale Leisure Limited |
Michael Coletta |
|
Latium Real Estate |
Harry Chapman |
|
Legacy Hotels & Resorts Ltd - Hospitality Ventures Ltd |
Andy Townsend |
|
Lensfield Hotel |
S. Papson |
|
Linden Lodge Guest House |
P. Deverill |
|
Liongate House |
Liz and Graeme Brown |
|
Longmead House |
Nick Bailey |
|
Lovat Parks |
Raoul Fraser |
|
Lyle & James Company Ltd t/a Townhouse Exeter |
Tim Lane |
|
Lyndale Guest House |
Alison Harwood |
|
Maple Bank Guest House |
Kate O’Donovan |
|
Meadow View B&B |
Louise Marion Marshall |
|
Mennabroom Farm Holiday Cottages and B&B |
Deborah Wheatley |
|
Merlin Entertainments |
Fiona Eastwood |
|
Middletons Hotel |
Oliver Stott |
|
Midtown Farm B & B |
Janice Byers |
|
Mitchell’s & Butlers |
Rob Grey |
|
Myrtle Cottage B&B |
Tyrone and Neil Mundell-Phipps |
|
National Caravan Council (The NCC) |
Alicia Dunne |
|
Newmans Hall Bed & Breakfast |
Charles Miller |
|
Newton Haven B&B |
Clare Shiel |
|
No 45 |
Irene Cheape |
|
No1 The Laurels B&B |
Malcolm Harrington |
|
Oxford and Cambridge Club |
Alistair Telfer |
|
Parkdean Resorts |
Steve Richards |
|
Paultons Park Ltd |
Richard Mancey |
|
Peak Edge Hotel |
Steve Perez |
|
Penta Hotels |
Michael Stevenson |
|
Petwood Hotel |
Emma Brealey |
|
PPHE Hotels & Resorts |
Daniel Pedreschi |
|
Professional Association of Self-Caterers UK (PASC UK) |
Alistair Handyside |
|
Pulteney House |
Valentina Worledge |
|
Raby Estates |
Claire Jones |
|
Radisson York |
Amanda Knowles |
|
Rathern Limited T/A Double Tree By Hilton London Marble Arch |
Anup Sarin |
|
Resort Development Organisation |
Sue McNicol |
|
Rosedale Bed & Breakfast |
Jenny Angel |
|
Rye Windmill B&B |
Toby Darkins |
|
SAFESTAY PLC |
Larry Lipman |
|
Seabreeze |
Cheryl Dickson |
|
Selden B&B |
Val Capon |
|
Short Term Accommodation Association (STAA) |
Andy Fenner |
|
Sleep Squires |
Jane Squire |
|
Smoo Lodge B&B |
Merlin Hendy |
|
South Beach B&B |
Andrew and Caroline King |
|
South West Tourism Alliance |
Joy Raymond |
|
Springburn Farmhouse B&B |
Morris Payton |
|
Starboard Hotels |
Paul Callingham |
|
Station House B&B |
Steve Woodall |
|
Storrs Hall Hotel |
Andrew Nicholson |
|
Sundown Adventureland |
Shaun Malvern |
|
Sunflower B&B |
Maria Ancochea |
|
Sycamore Shepherd’s Hut |
Janine Edmonds |
|
T5 Operating Company Limited |
Jacqui Bagnall |
|
Taigh Duitseach |
Jim Tweedie |
|
Tewkesbury Park |
Patrick Jones |
|
Thatched Cottage Bed and Breakfast |
Wendy Macklin |
|
The Aldwick B&B |
Veronica Smith |
|
The Bed & Breakfast Association |
David Weston |
|
The Carlton Hotel |
Eliot Seabourn-Wren |
|
The Clifton at Paignton |
Steven and Claire Brunn |
|
The Falcon House |
Barbara Cole |
|
The Hive at 52 |
Harro Dorsch |
|
The Horseshoe |
Bozena Mierzwa |
|
The Inn At Whitewell |
Charles Bowman |
|
The Old Bakehouse |
Steven Warren |
|
The Old Mill B&B |
David Ventham |
|
The Old Post Office Guest House |
James McCarthy |
|
The Old Rectory B&B, Chicklade |
Tim Pollard |
|
The Old Rectory Kettlebaston |
Maggie Lawrence |
|
The Old Stables B&B |
Jeff Crisp |
|
The Old Town Hall B&B |
Louise Clarke |
|
The Osborne Hotel Torquay |
Ivan Curtis |
|
The Owls Bed and Breakfast |
Jo and Ian Jones |
|
The Parks Guest House, Minehead |
Christopher Nurden |
|
The Queensberry Hotel and Olive Tree Restaurant |
Laurence Beere |
|
The Sea Croft Bed Breakfast and Bar |
Georgina Bearman |
|
The Spread Eagle Hotel & Spa |
Pontus Carminger |
|
The Victoria Inn B&B |
Carolynne Hall |
|
The Wadham |
Tracie Jane Hession |
|
The White House Guest House |
Prue Harrison |
|
Thorley Taverns |
Philip Thorley |
|
Thurlestone Hotel |
Tim Hassell |
|
Thursford Collection |
George Cushing |
|
Townhouse Exeter |
Ken Skinner |
|
Towy Community Church T/A Xcel Bowl |
Nicky Harding |
|
Travel Chapter Limited |
Jayne McClure |
|
Travelodge |
Jo Boydell |
|
Treweens |
Nichola Burgess |
|
UKHospitality |
Allen Simpson |
|
Uplands House B&B |
Lady Poppy Cooksey |
|
Varley House |
Rod Chatfield |
|
Victorian House Hotel |
Serena von der Heyde |
|
Wallsend Guest House & Glamping Pods |
Barry Maxey |
|
Warner Hotels |
Paul Pomroy |
|
Wartling Place |
Rowena Gittoes |
|
Weavers of Haworth |
Josie Price |
|
Weston Park Enterprises Ltd |
Colin Sweeney |
|
Whitbread |
Dominic Paul |
|
White Heather Guest House |
Helene England |
|
Willow Bridge Guest House |
Karen Tanner |
|
Winterton B&B & Crinan House Holiday Cottage |
Stephanie Scwhind-Parsons |
|
Wivenhoe House Hotel |
Stevie Robson |
|
YHA (England & Wales) |
James Blake |
|
YOTEL |
Guillermo Gomez |
|
Your Place Hotels Ltd |
Andy Miles |
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