Affordable housing and workforce accommodation are among the major challenges facing the hospitality industry in the Lake District.
That was one of the keynote messages at a meeting of the Lake District Hotels Association, at Kendal’s Castle Green Hotel, which was attended by Westmorland & Lonsdale MP Tim Farron, and David Sheen from UK Hospitality.
The meeting also focused on the financial and operational challenges faced by all businesses in the Lakes, including the impact of increased costs, particularly National Insurance contributions, which are expected to cost individual members an extra £30,000 to £1.5m.
But on a positive note, there was a lot of emphasis on the importance of training and skills development, with plans for a training day and workshops for managers. And Mr Farron told them: “What you do is epic!”
He said: “You are running important businesses, enabling people to come and enjoy the beauty of the national park.
“We all know the immense mental health and other benefits of connection with the countryside and with this rugged wilderness. You will meet the challenges because of the excellent leadership we have in this room, So you should take real pride in what you do.”
The meeting was hosted by the association’s chair, Ben Mayou, general manager of the Lakeside Hotel at Newby Bridge.
The Lake District Hotels Association represents around 50 of the top independent and branded properties and tourist attractions in Cumbria, with a direct and indirect economic impact of £459 million.
They employ 2,038 people, offering 2,183 bedrooms a night. They spend £40 million a year on local goods and services and invest £9 million on capital expenditure programmes.
