Downtown Monthly
On behalf of Liverpool Hospitality, a non-for-profit organization dedicated to representing the collective voice of LCR Hospitality Industry, we call for your support. 2020 is going to be remembered as one of the hardest ever chapters in human history. There is no denying that it has been a challenging year for everyone. We have all been affected by this ongoing situation, however, we have not all been affected in the same way; some people and businesses have struggled more than others. It is common knowledge that one of the most profoundly affected industries by COVID-19 has been Hospitality. Despite being classified as ‘non-essential’, we employ over 50,000 people in the LCR and we contribute to over £4bn to the local economy on average every year. Our industry also supports wider supply chains that rely heavily on our businesses. So, when we talk about being one of the worst industries affected; we mean jobs, livelihoods, families and people from our industry and beyond. Our city region is world famous for its thriving culture and strong sense of community due to the warm, welcoming and caring personality of our people. We stick together and support each other through the good times and find strength in adversity. We hope you know that you can
count on us, as much as we know we can count on you and that is why we are reaching out. Humans are social beings and therefore the role of Hospitality in society is more than just creating jobs; we enable people to experience and build happier memories with their loved ones. Yes, technology has proven to be a great tool to help communicate with each other and work remotely, but it will never be able to replicate the feeling of togetherness and belonging that only real human connection provide and real experiences facilitate. Keeping our community safe and supporting the NHS is our priority and we can guarantee that we are doing everything in our power to keep our venues safe for everyone. Nevertheless; operating at a reduced capacity, observing a curfew, additional safety measures, new equipment and technologies, training, re-training...These all come at a cost and they all require investment of both money and time – both which are getting scarcer and scarcer forcing more and more of our hospitality venues to close their doors. We are fighting to keep our staff in their jobs to be able to hang on in there. So when we all meet at the other end, our businesses are going to be there to welcome you all back for those after work drinks,
unforgettable Christmas parties, special birthday and anniversary celebrations, celebratory graduation ceremonies, memorable wedding receptions... But for this to become a reality in the future, we need all the support that we can get, now. There is no doubt that Christmas will be very different this year, but that does not mean it has to be cancelled. The festive season is always one of the most exciting times of the year for everybody and Christmas parties have been a great way to recognise employees’ hard work. We know this will not be possible this December, but there is a way of keeping this tradition alive. This year, the small act of gifting your employees with hospitality gift vouchers will go a long way in supporting the businesses that make our region such a destination. Most of our vouchers are valid for one year and although we do not expect everyone to redeem them straight away, this simple gesture will have a hugely positive impact on our businesses now whilst giving us hope and prospects for the future - one where COVID is no longer a threat to our society and the LCR will be thriving once again. We thank you immensely for your continued support and we know we will get through this, together.
Sincerely, Marcus Magee Liverpool Hospitality Chair
Paul Askew Liverpool Hospitality Co-chair
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