NEWS

‘SUPPERS FOR SUPERHEROES’ DISHES UP 500 MEALS A WEEK FOR GLASGOW ROYAL INFIRMARY STAFF

Laura and Shane McKenzie, owners of Glasgow’s Cathedral House Hotel in Glasgow, have been providing 500 meals a week to staff at Glasgow Royal Infirmary with the help of Red Onion chef and owner, John Quigley, and his daughter, Rosie, and Chef Claire Bell of Bar 91 and her best friend.

Laura told Hotel Scotland, “After we were forced to close the hotel Shane got in touch with the Celtic Charitable Foundation, he has done fundraising for them in the past, and we were told they could help finance food supplies and we came up with this idea, “Suppers for Superheroes’.

“We thought Glasgow Infirmary staff doing long days and nights just didn’t have the time to shop and cook when they got home from shifts. So we decided to provide nutritious meals for them instead.

“We had the cash for the food we just needed chef volunteers and John Quigley of Red Onion immediately came to mind. He said ‘Yes’ right away and stepped in with daughter Rosie and Claire Bell the chef at Bar 91 and her best friend Paula also volunteered. We needed people who were close because of the social distancing required in the kitchen.

“They do a two and three days shifts, and Shane, myself and my two Anna, and Callum box up the food, and it is picked up at 7pm every night - so staff can pick it up at the start of their shift or the end. We do 30 vegetarian meals and 70 meat meals and we have a menu that is scalable and not too complicated.

“The feedback has been brilliant. It has also been really nice to be able to do something for the NHS staff on the frontline. Initially, we had enough funding for six weeks, but we have been careful with our purchasing and have used Failte for just about all the food but we have also had donations from Tommy at the Fruit Market. This means we can run a little longer and we are also looking at providing some extra meals for care home workers too.”

The family, who have operated Cathedral House for two years all work in hospitality except for daughter Emily who is a newlygraduated Junior Doctor, who is now working in Dundee.

Laura concludes, “Obviously having Emily working as a Junior Doctor brings it all a little closer to home. But at least we know that the staff at the Glasgow Royal Infirmary are getting nutritious and tasty meals to help them continue their good work.”

DATA FROM ANALYSTS SHOWS EXTENT OF COVID-19 IMPACT

HotStats data, in its first analysis of full profitand-loss performance since the COVID-19 pandemic swept through the global hospitality industry, reveals that European hospitality nose dived in March. February data was unremarkable, but March saw gross operating profit per available room (GOPPAR) for the month fall a record 115.9%, the biggest YOY decline since April 2009, when GOPPAR dropped 37.9% in the thick of the Global Financial Crisis. It was the first time since HotStats began tracking monthly European data in October 1996 that GOPPAR as a value turned negative at -€8.33.

RevPAR was down 66.2% YOY, the result of a 44.6-percentage-point drop in occupancy, combined with an 11% YOY drop in average rate. As all ancillary revenue plummeted, it brought TRevPAR down 61.6%, again the largest YOY drop in the KPI since April 2009, when TRevPAR declined 23.5%.

The data shows that COVID-19 is hitting revenue and profit ~3x harder than the Global Financial Crisis and ~4x harder than 9/11.

Labour costs were down 28.8% YOY on a per-available-room basis and total overhead costs were down 25.3% YOY.

The profit margin was down 45.7 percentage points to -13.1%, the first time HotStats has recorded a negative profit margin for the region.

China, the recognised genesis of the coronavirus, continues to suffer negative performance across the breadth of KPIs month to month, but there are signs of improvement. Occupancy in March inched up 7.3 percentage points over February, and while GOPPAR was still in the red, it was 64% higher in March over February in dollar value.

In Hubei province, where the coronavirus was first detected, occupancy in March was already up to 58.9%, only an 11-percentagepoint decrease from the same time a year ago. Though much of that occupancy is likely a function of medical workers using the hotels for accommodations, GOPPAR was positive for the month at $22.60, after a negative month of February.

HotStats outlook suggests that “hoteliers will be hard-pressed to generate a modicum of revenue throughout the rest of the year and likely will have to wait until there is a vaccine to see profits normalise.

In Scotland STR have forecast that Hotels in Glasgow will see occupancy drove by 20.3% in 2020 with a decrease in RevPAR of 25.9% while Edinburgh will fare worse with occupancy levels dropping 21.9% and RevPAR down 32.8%”

HOTELS SUPPORT NHS STAFF WITH ACCOMMODATION OFFERS

Hotels and hospitality venues throughout Scotland have been doing their bit for the NHS. Manorview offered rooms in its eight west of Scotland sites to NHS staff who wanted to shorten their commute or just need a rest after a long shift and they were one-off the blocks to offer this free facility while in Edinburgh Ten Hill Place also offered free accommodation to frontline medical staff helping tackle the Covid-19 epidemic. The 12-bedroomed hotel, which is operated by hospitality business Surgeons Quarter and owned by the Royal College of Surgeons of Edinburgh (RCSED), has also kept on all 76 of its salaried and contracted staff on full pay for at least the next three months. Scott Mitchell, managing director of Surgeons Quarter, said, “Being owned by one of the UK’s most prestigious medical colleges, it feels right that we should step in to offer our facilities free of charge. Our city-centre location means we’re close to several of the city’s vital hospitals, full of heroic staff doing everything they can to keep us safe and well.” He added, “In these uncertain and rapidly changing times, it is absolutely essential that we stand behind our highly talented workforce and give them financial certainty. When we come out the other end of this current situation we will need all of our team to be ready to regrow our business and I, the Company and the College will do everything in our power to avoid cutting our workforce.” The Ugie House Hotel in Keith owned by Robbie and Morag Martin has also opened its 10 rooms to NHS and emergency workers who are working in the area.

BOATH HOUSE in Nairn has been put on the market by owners Don and Wendy Matheson. The couple have owned the luxury boutique hotel for the past 25 years, and are looking for offers in the region of £1,975,000

The A-listed Georgian house has 4 principal reception rooms, and 9 bedroom suites, which have been tastefullydecorated. A Cafe and garden shop, walled garden, orchard, ornamental lake, wildfire meadow and mature woodland are also included.

Boath House, which was built for Sir James Dunbar, has been described as the most beautiful Regency House in Scotland and was built by Archibald Simpson of Aberdeen, whose portrait hangs in the house. Simpson was regarded as being head and shoulders above the men of his time, and by some as an architectural genius.

It was on the rising ground in front of the house in 1645, that part of the Montrose’s Royalist force awaited the Covenanting army commanded by the Duke of Argyll. It is said that the army camped in the grounds at a site which is now outside the bottom of the walled garden.

Spain has revealed its four stages for coming out of lockdown. These include allowing small businesses and hotels to re- open from 11 May, although social distancing will remain in force.

Restaurants can start opening their terraces from mid-May, but they must not be more than 30% full during the first phase

Maryculter House hotel in Aberdeenshire is to be given a comprehensive six-figure refurbishment later this year. The plans include transforming its 40 bedrooms and public areas. The investment will also include its bar/ restaurant Poachers Brasserie which will re-designed to offer informal dining with a focus on locally sourced and Scottish ingredients with a modern twist.

A new 162-bedroom hotel planned for Inverness will still go ahead if planners give it the green light. However any decision, on the former Ironworks site in Academy street, by Highland Council, is likely to be delayed until August at the earliest due to Coronavirus restrictions.

The Bricks Group plan to build a seven-storey Courtyard by Marriott Hotel on the site and the developers have said that they remained committed to the project and have funds in place.

Stuart Robb and Michelle Elliot - of Leonard Curtis Business Rescue & Recovery Glasgow - are the Joint Administrators of The Sea Door Limited, operators of The Scalloway Hotel in Shetland.

Located on Main Street, in Scalloway, the independent hotel has 23 rooms, a bar and 2AA rosette restaurant.

After reviewing the Company’s options - following a difficult couple of years trading and in light of the COVID-19 pandemic crisis - the directors made the difficult decision to close the hotel and appoint Administrators at the end of March.

CRERAR LAUNCHES NHS CELEBRATION WEEKEND AND URGES OTHER TO GET INVOLVED TOO

Crerar Hotels, the privately owned Scottish hotel company has earmarked the last weekend in August to give NHS and Care Workers and their families a weekend to remember – the NHS Hero Celebration Weekend, once the lockdown is over and it is urging other hospitality businesses to get involved too.

Paddy Crerar, CBE, Chairman, Crerar Hotels said, “Our hope is that other Scottish hoteliers and hospitality businesses join us in this big thank you. We thought of bringing together a larger more coordinated group and had to dismiss that. Every business has suffered, some may be able to join and that can only be their choice. We certainly hope some will, and will still feel we are doing what we can if it’s only ourselves that are able to commit. We are privately owned, Scottish and hefted to where we are - for others it’s maybe different.”

Every Crerar Hotel, and there are seven in total, the Golf View, Nairn; Thainstone House, Inverurie; Deeside Inn, Ballater; Oban Bay, Oban; Isle of Mull, Craignure, Mull; Glencoe Inn & Gathering, Glencoe and the Loch Fyne Hotel, Inveraray will give every bedroom, executive room and suite (382 rooms in total) to this for a very special exclusive Friday and Saturday night stay which is tentatively set for the end of August.

In addition to the free stay, dinner (be that AA rosette dining or a casual inn dining) and breakfast during the stay will be gifted.

The hotel group has come up with the ‘Scottish Hospitality for Heroes’ campaign to say thank you to all the key workers and it offers these heroes an opportunity to experience the true “Spirit of Scotland” through Crerar’s ‘Spiorad na h-Alba’ hospitality and outstanding locations.

Crerar Hotels CEO, Chris Wayne-Wills, “We are determined to make this as big a thank you as we can. Already we have been really encouraged by the reaction of the loyal Crerar guests we have contacted to ask that their bookings get moved to free up the availability we need (date can only be confirmed after lock down lifted). Every single one has said yes and more - many turning their deposit into a donation to help the big thank you. Of course for those that do this we will make sure in every room given through that kindness there’s a wee something extra, and a letter of gratitude is left for the NHS/Carer hero on behalf of the Crerar guest that has gifted it.”

As well as Scottish Hospitality for Heroes the group is also promoting ‘Local Hospitality for Hereos’ and is encouraging local hospitality businesses and local people to get behind this big thank you.

Crerar Hotel employees and guests can also nominate a local hero who has supported their communities during the crisis, the vouchers . The nominations can be sent to localheroes@crerarhotels.com

Chris Wayne-Wills, says “This is everyone’s business and a chance for everyone to say thank you, when we welcome these frontline heroes we’d like to have help from our local partners and we are talking with them right now. Tickets to distilleries, wildlife boat trips, a fiddler for entertainment, access to museums, a cask of beer behind the bar from a local brewery or whatever a local can give would be great. Everybody can make this their special thank you.”

“Local people can express their thanks too. We really want the hotels to be exclusively for NHS and carers - these people will need our care as we needed and still need theirs. So, coming in to the hotel to say thanks and buy a round of drinks is maybe ill advised even if well intended. We believe if that’s what a local wants to do then do it “virtually” and give the folk we are saying thank you to space to relax and be normal. Let us do it for you - buy a round, a steak, a bottle of wine or whatever you like. Do it in advance and we will make sure it’s delivered as your thank you.” The company is also issuing NHS Hero Gift Vouchers. The public will be able to express thanks to any NHS workers by purchasing monetary gift vouchers, with Crerar Hotels adding half as much again to the value! “The Crerar Trust have also gifted £25,000 towards a “Help for Local Heroes” scheme. The scheme is to support a Crerar Hotels gift voucher issue to local heroes; key workers such as shop workers, emergency response personnel, refuse collectors who have contributed during the crisis.

Paddy Crerar CBE, Chairman, Crerar Hotels commented, “These have been exceptionally challenging times, terrifying in fact and we have a way to go yet. Day in and day out the NHS folk and care workers have stepped up and if we ordinary folk stuck at home have been fearful how must it be for those that had no choice. We should all be rightly proud of our NHS workers, the carers and all of those who have done all they can despite the grave risks to themselves.“

“These folk must be exhausted, tired beyond belief and most likely also tired of talking about it. If we can give them a night or two of safe respite and a return to a form of normal hopefully that’s a good thing for them. We are just hoteliers, all we can do is show our thanks through what we do best and of course we wish it could be more.”

He continues, “At the start of the crisis one of our supply partners (Billy McNeill, YourTex) said to me, “we are all going to have to look after each other” - how right he’s been and we are determined to continue to live that way. We have some great business partners including Belhaven Brewery, De Burgh Wine Merchants, Scottish beef from Campbell Brothers, game from Braehead Foods and many more who without being asked, sought to help us where they can with this big thank you. That’s going to be remembered.”

“The NHS and care workers were ready to look after all of us and we will be ready to open our doors to say thank you in whatever way we can as soon as it’s safe to do so. It’s been a hellish time for all and every business has taken a serious hit, we are no different and yet it seems nothing by comparison to the personal sacrifice already given by NHS and care workers. I’m determined that we give recognition to this massive effort made by these good people at our time of need. It’s little what we can do and I hope other hospitality businesses will join us to show the world just how good the spirit of Scotland really is. At Crerar that’s what we will do, through authentic hospitality and this expression of gratitude to our NHS and Care heroes”

“If the First Minister says we must stay shut we will - no protest. We must all do what we can to protect the nation’s health. If it’s impossible through a continued lock down to say thank you this summer, then we will do it spring or whenever it’s safe to do so.”

Chris concludes, “Crerar Hotels hope that many other hospitality companies will join this initiative so as many NHS heroes as possible can be thanked and are in ongoing discussions with suppliers and other leading hospitality companies to become involved and hopefully make the NHS & Carer big celebration weekend an industry and Scottish wide event as a festival of gratitude.”

UKHOSPITALITY SURVEY HIGHLIGHTS FLAWS IN SUPPORT TO HOSPITALITY BUSIESSES DURING .COVID-19

UKHospitality has revealed the results of the first comprehensive survey of the hospitality sector during the COVID-19 pandemic, in which businesses were asked about their experiences of accessing loans, insurance claims, the speed of grant payments and workforce issues. The results have highlighted flaws in the level of support provided to businesses during the crisis. Around half (48%) of businesses have applied for loans, but the majority of those receiving a response (57%) have had their bids turned down. Government-imposed State Aid rules account for over a quarter (26%) of rejections, alongside banks telling business to exhaust their own capital first (28%). Nearly three-quarters (74%) of businesses have claimed, or intend to claim, for business interruption insurance. However, their chances of success appear limited: alarmingly, fewer than 1% of businesses that have claimed have received pay-outs. Only around a quarter of eligible businesses had received hospitality grants, which falls significantly short of

Government estimates. UKHospitality has been urging for these loans to be expedited and extended to more businesses. In terms of workforce, redundancies have been kept to a minimum (2%), with

the majority of businesses furloughing staff, accounting for 84% of sector employees. This demonstrates the huge success of the Government’s job retention scheme, and the need for it to be extended as the recovery begins.

Kate Nicholls, (left) UKHospitality CEO, commented:, “These findings lay bare the extra work that needs to be done by governments, banks and landlords to make sure as many businesses as possible can survive this crisis. Hospitality was the first hit, the hardest hit and will suffer for the longest, and Government support needs to reflect these facts. Hospitality businesses will be key to recovery as prolific employers, major tax contributors, and hubs for social interaction. “Governments across the UK have provided unprecedented support to assist hospitality through this crisis, and that is extremely welcome. Yet, we are in this for the long haul. Everyone is rightly looking to how the economy and the industry restarts in a way that avoids a return of this horrific pandemic. Before we get to recovery, we need to make sure that the support measures already announced are getting through to business. “Loans must be fast-tracked with minimal restrictions, grants must flow to all businesses that need them regardless of size, and the job retention scheme must be amended to reflect actual earnings.”