Hospitality sector lost £80.8bn in sales during pandemic
UKHospitality Quarterly Tracker with CGA revealed that sales from the start of April 2020 to the end of March 2021 totalled £46bn, down by 64% on £126.8bn in the previous year
The UK’s hospitality sector has reportedly lost £80.8bn in sales due to the Covid-19 pandemic, according to UKHospitality’s (UKH) Quarterly Tracker with CGA.
Figures showed that sales from the start of April 2020 to the end of March 2021 totalled £46bn, which is down by 64% on £126.8bn from the previous year.
Kate Nicholls, CEO of UKHospitality, said: “It has been a catastrophic year for the sector and we are by no means out of the woods yet. Hospitality’s ability to reopen will remain massively hampered until the government delivers on its commitment to dropping Covid restrictions and measures on 21 June.
“Even then, with so many companies facing rent debts and business rates bills, after more than a year with little trading, many companies – and thousands more jobs – will be in jeopardy unless further support is forthcoming, particularly on tackling the rent debt crisis that threatens our recovery.”
She added: “Hospitality can help power the national economic recovery, providing jobs to people who have lost them, bring people back together for safe socialising and continue to serve those most in need in communities all over Britain.
“To do this however, we need to operate without the stranglehold of restrictions, and for the Government to work with the sector on a recovery plan.”
