We are delighted to report the following news from Cairn Group showing how our great industry is reacting in times of crisis helping to combat the spread of COVID-19. Catering, laundry and domestic cleaning staff from Cairn Group’s hotels around the UK will be giving a helping hand to the stretched care home sector. The Group has 32 hotels across the UK but also seven … [Read more...]
Archives for March 2020
Ed Sheeran to pay all his restaurant team throughout COVID-19 crisis
Singer and songwriter Ed Sheeran has ensured the wellbeing of all his London restaurant staff by agreeing to pay the salaries of all the restaurant team throughout the COVID-19 crisis. His generosity is irrespective of the length of time the crisis continues. Not only has Sheeran covered his team financially to see them through the crisis, he has additionally encouraged them … [Read more...]
Chancellor Rishi Sunak delivers much needed message to hospitality’s self-employed
Rishi Sunak has once again stood up and given a statesmanlike performance in delivering his much needed message to those who are self-employed. The overall message was clear, and that message was ‘we will look after you if you are self-employed’. In many ways the help soon available is on par with the help already provided for people who are ‘traditionally’ employed, covering … [Read more...]
JD Wetherspoon adds fuel to hospitality cash flow fires
There are many business adages that stand the test of time, ‘Cash is King’ being possibly the most relevant to businesses currently. In the boardrooms of many big businesses across the country board members sit, at a safe distance we hope, and take decisions to protect their businesses. This is human nature and as such is understandable, but it also sets in motion a domino … [Read more...]
JD Wetherspoon serve notice of not paying suppliers, indefinitely
Yesterday Tim Martin and JD Weatherspoon announced they were not paying their 43,000 workers until the company was first reimbursed for their wages by the government. JD Wetherspoon’s decision leaves 43,000 people without their next pay date, many with little or no means of paying for rent, bills or food. Adding insult to injury today an email was sent by JD Weatherspoon to … [Read more...]
Celebrated restauranteur and chef Floyd Cardoz, passes away from COVID-19
We are sad to report that Mumbai born restaurateur Floyd Cardoz has passed away today from COVID-19. Floyd Cardoz was born and grew up in Mumbai, he trained as a biochemist before discovering his real passion, restaurants. Educated in culinary schools in India and Switzerland, he travelled to New York where he worked in Gray Kunz's legendary kitchen at Lespinasse, rising to … [Read more...]
BiteBack, the online toolkit for hospitality businesses looking at transition to takeaway
The distressing impact of the global health and economic crisis from COVID-19 is being felt by all businesses, especially hospitality businesses. Now forced to close, restaurants will no takings while these measures are still in place. For small or independent businesses, this revenue loss could prove particularly damaging unless they find alternative ways to generate … [Read more...]
US $2 Trillion COVID-19 package approved, and includes help for self-employed
The White House and Senate leaders in the very early hours of this morning approved a $2-trillion (that’s $2,000,000,000,000) package to provide immediate stimulus to their economy. Following intense negotiations the package produced is one of the most expensive and potentially impactful measures in the history of the US Congress. White House legislative affairs director … [Read more...]
Chancellor tells the Airlines that feed UK tourism and hospitality no help from Government
Chancellor Rishi Sunak has told UK airlines not to look to the government for help getting through the COVID-19 crisis and to find other forms of funding. In a letter to the UK airline industry yesterday Sunak said the government would only step in as "a last resort". He instead urged airlines to seek to raise money from shareholders. He went on to set out that the … [Read more...]
Hospitality Hero emerges on Facebook, meet the amazing Kevin Foley
The Cambridge Dictionary defines hospitality as... the act of being friendly and welcoming to guests and visitors. And to balance all things Oxbridge, the Oxford dictionary defines hospitality as ... friendly and generous behaviour towards guests. We all have our own definitions and to a greater or lesser extend live them out every day being part of the hospitality … [Read more...]
World financial markets rise today, and FTSE rewards Wetherspoons treatment of workers
It was a relief to see financial markets across the world bounce back today, making significant gains across the board. In London the FTSE 100 closed at 5,460, up 466 points or 9.35%. After yesterday’s fall being the biggest since 2011, today’s rise is the biggest since 2008. We are delighted to report that the FTSE 350 Travel & Leisure Index, which contains many of the … [Read more...]
No mention of self-employed from Downing Street this afternoon…
This afternoon’s media briefing from Downing Street did not address or mention the growing concerns of 5 million self-employed people in the UK around the COVID-19 pandemic. Earlier today in Parliament Chancellor Rishi Sunak’s tone, as well as that of his treasury colleague Stephen Barclay’s sounded vague, with no sign of a solution for the financial woes of the … [Read more...]
Parliament’s current tone not sounding good for hospitality’s self employed
Parliament is currently debating how the self-employed can be supported similarly to other workers and businesses throughout the UK. At the outset of the debate the Chancellor, Rishi Sunak, told MPs: “We’re looking at pace at what support can be provided. “The fact is that the five million universe that we’re dealing with contains such a wide variety of different people … [Read more...]
Tim Martin callously warns Wetherspoon workers of pay delays and advises move to supermarkets
Tim Martin has told his 40,000 staff at Wetherspoons they could face delays being paid and urged them to consider taking a job at supermarkets instead. Wetherspoons sent a video sent to staff this week hosted by founder and chairman Tim Martin saying that his company would be making use of the new government wage subsidy scheme, but warned staff they would likely face delays … [Read more...]
World financial markets and world financiers react negatively to today’s COVID-19 news
As the impact of COVID-19 deepens across the world, government financial ministers, world banks and financial markets across the world all looked downwards. In London today the FTSE 100 ended below 5,000 down 196 points at 4,993, its lowest level of close since October 2011. Also in London today the FTSE 350 Travel & Leisure Index, which contains many of the best … [Read more...]
