Hospitality restrictions have left many businesses 'on the edge', warns Caithness hotelier
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A Caithness hotelier has warned that many well-established businesses are “on the edge” and some are facing collapse as a result of the continuing restrictions on the hospitality sector.
Murray Lamont emphasises that the industry respects the need to adhere to the rules, but says he is concerned that owners have effectively had to endure three winter seasons in a row – with the possibility of that becoming five.
Mr Lamont, who runs Mackays Hotel in Wick with wife Ellie, says there is no evidence of a clear route forward for the sector and argues that the longer hotels remain closed, the harder it will be to get people back to work.
His stark message came after Nicola Sturgeon warned this week it is "highly unlikely" that hotels or self-catering accommodation will be able to fully reopen by the Easter holidays. The First Minister said staycations could be possible by the summer, although that would depend on Covid-19 figures closer to the time.
“Hospitality and tourism are the foundation of the northern economy and probably the industry worst affected by Covid,” Mr Lamont said. “We have had in effect three winters in succession, with the possibility of this extending to five.
“Schemes are issued to help but usually with very little detail and with restrictions and lockdowns, with no clear plan of a way out of this situation.
“The industry understands and respects the need to be responsible and adhere to rules for everybody’s safety and wellbeing.”
Highlighting the implications for jobs, however, Mr Lamont said: “Easter is traditionally the start of the season for most tourism businesses and the foundation of the summer ahead. Cash is generated to allow employees and the supply chain to be paid.
“The season is short enough as it is – a lot of businesses will not generate enough cash to keep themselves solvent without the whole season.
“Easter is also the time for employing seasonal staff and bedding them in ready for the main event. The shorter the season, the less attractive it is for people to come and work in hospitality.
“We need a clear plan ahead so we structure the opening of our business.
“At the moment many wholesalers and suppliers in the supply chain have furloughed their staff and need time to get people back in place. The simple things like bread, milk, cheese and cream... supplies have been cut due to lack of demand from hotels. Breweries will need at least four weeks to get supplies back on track and beer into our cellars.
“Many well-established businesses are on the edge and some business owners are facing collapse. The longer we are closed, the harder it will be to get people back to work and there will be the risk of unemployment.
“Again, we understand that science must dictate safety measures and that is why we need a route map to guide us forward. People need to have confidence in us as responsible employers.”
Mr Lamont added: “We also need to be very careful with talk of closing borders, as this scares people – albeit this isn’t the time to travel, but it is the time to plan that staycation and if we aren’t careful that customer may go to Wales or Ireland rather than touring the North Coast 500.
“We need to preserve the famous traditional Highland welcome and hopefully use it sooner than later. We can’t overstate the economic value of tourism to the north.”
In a parliamentary statement on Tuesday, the First Minister reiterated that education should be the top priority in moving out of lockdown. The first phase of the reopening of schools will go ahead on Monday.
But Ms Sturgeon warned: “Given the risks posed by new variants of this virus, it is hard to overstate the necessity of being careful, cautious and gradual as we exit this lockdown, if we want to avoid another lockdown later in the year.
“And that means, for now, all of us continuing to abide by the stay-at-home requirement.”
Pubs, cafés and restaurants were ordered to close from the morning of December 26, although with takeaway allowed. Hotels, B&Bs and self-catering accommodation could remain open to those staying for essential work purposes.
Last year, Mackays Hotel marked 65 years as an independent family business. It has been a leading accommodation provider in Caithness since being purchased by the first family member in 1955 – Mr Lamont’s maternal grandmother, Catherine Macrae.
The hotel has its main entrance on Union Street and skirts River Street but has achieved widespread fame for its Ebenezer Place frontage – recognised by Guinness World Records as the world's shortest street at 2.05 m (6 ft 9 in).
