DON’T MISS THE INSIDE TRACK ON ALL THINGS HOTEL RELATED ON 20TH MARCH
PLUS HOUSEKEEPERS REWARDED 25TH ANNIVERSARY HOTEL HEROES RECEPTIONIST AWARDS
AND MEMBER LUNCH PHOTOS MEMBER NEWS TOURISM ECONOMICS
YOUR CHANCE TO GET THE INSIDE TRACK ON HOTEL PERFORMANCE, EXPANSION AND PROMOTION, ALL HELPING TO BUILD A SUSTAINABLE SECTOR.
SOME PHOTOS FROM OUR MEMBER LUNCH
HOTPLATE
Northern Ireland Hotels Federation
The McCune Building, 1 Shore Road
Belfast BT15 3PG
Tel: 028 9077 6635 Web: nihf.co.uk
Email: office@nihf.co.uk
Celebrations and refurbishments from members across the country.
MEMBER NEWS TOURISM NEWS
All the latest from Tourism Ireland and Tourism Northern Ireland including a conference date.
Photos of the Housekeeping Awards held on 28th February in La Mon Hotel and the Assessment Day held in Room2 Hometel.
RECEPTIONIST AWARDS LAUNCHED
Enter now for the 2024 competition. P. 22
It’s been a busy start to 2024 and it was great to be able to welcome so many members to lunch on 31st January at the Dunadry Hotel and Gardens. It was an opportunity for me to tell everyone about some of our plans and celebrations for the coming year which will see the federation celebrate its twentyfifth anniversary. We will celebrate this milestone throughout the year and pay tribute to our people by recognising the heroes within the sector at a special reception in April.
The other big news has been the return of the Executive. This is a welcome development for all and sends out a positive message to those planning to invest and helps us attract more visitors to Northern Ireland. We hope to see a resolution of budgetary issues and the end of industrial action. A better fiscal position should also allow local agencies like Tourism Northern Ireland to plan on a longer-term basis and not have the constraint of a very limiting twelve-month planning window. It is good to see things start to move in the Executive, however many of the issues that affect the hotel industry along with the wider tourism and hospitality sector
come from central policies created in Westminster.
People are a critical part of our success, and a lack of suitable staff could affect our ability to continue to grow and realise the sector’s real potential. In the past, the sector was able to avail of skilled overseas workers but Brexit and new entry qualifications for visas have made this route less feasible. Immigration and the failure to recognise regional differences or the needs of the hotel and hospitality sector have been a real constraint. Our most recent staffing survey shows the strain on business with 75% of those who responded stating a critical shortage of chefs, kitchen porters and service staff. The Federation has shared this information with government and has explained the repercussions of the situation. We will continue to highlight the issues and press for a greater understanding of the rewarding roles we can offer, the price constraints that we face and the need to look at immigration on a more regional basis.
Costs have risen and while businesses have been able to pass on a portion of these to customers, it has not been possible to fully recover them all. A game changer
Wednesday 13th March
Receptionist Training Ten Square Hotel Belfast
Wednesday 20th March
Business Outlook Seminar
Clandeboye Lodge Hotel
Tuesday 16th April
Receptionist Assessment
Clayton Hotel Belfast
Wednesday 24th April
Receptionist Interviews Clayton Hotel Belfast
Thursday 25th April
Hotel Heroes
Grand Central Hotel
Tuesday 14th May
Golf Day
Hilton Templepatrick
for us all would be a reduction in the VAT rate. The Chancellor is due to present his budget on 6th March and the industry has been calling for a reduction in VAT to help support businesses through these challenging times. Our local businesses have a unique disadvantage as we share a border with the region that has not only recognised the economic and transformative nature of tourism but has supported it for the last four decades with a reduced VAT rate. Nationally businesses and industry bodies have united in calling for this measure, hopefully, this has not fallen on deaf ears.
We are aware of member concerns and will continue to work to ensure that they are at the forefront of our political engagement. This Federation will highlight opportunities, performance and challenges and hope that you will join us at our next member event: The Business Outlook on 20th March, an opportunity to hear about performance, and the hotel pipeline as well as get the inside track on sustainability and innovation.
Wednesday 22nd May
Receptionist Awards Killyhevlin Lakeside Hotel
Tues 15th & Wed 16th October
Hospitality Exchange is 25 Crowne Plaza Belfast
A new year, a new minister, and a proposed new tourism strategy. Since January the political process has been galvanised, culminating in the return of the Executive after a twenty-four-month hiatus. Since its return Executive ministers have set about the task of balancing the books and trying to agree a revised budget to ensure a stable fiscal future for Northern Ireland. On 22nd February, Minister Murphy laid out his economic vision mentioning tourism specifically in his first speech as economy minister. There is no doubt that the sector can deliver benefits throughout Northern Ireland promoting the regional balance that the minister seeks to deliver.
Over the last six months, there appear to have been almost weekly proclamations of new hotels. It has been good to see the pipeline reinvigorated and at the upcoming Business Outlook Seminar on 20th March 2024, the Federation will launch an updated hotel report exploring the current hotel landscape, trends in the accommodation sector and proposed expansion in the coming years.
Despite a plethora of announcements, news bites and
possibilities, hotel construction is proving to be a tricky business. The ambition of developers is being thwarted by the challenges of planning coupled with revisions required to meet new consumer demands in the postCOVID-19 climate. The result is an excruciatingly slow process. Added to this, you have the turbulence of inflation with increasing construction costs and interest rates. It has proved to be not only more cost-effective but significantly faster to buy a hotel than to build one! Acquisitions are still very much in vogue (though not always in the public domain) and after an eventful 2023, the prediction is that 2024 will be another busy year of buying and selling.
The NIHF is twenty-five years old this year and looking back to 1999 highlights the incredible journey the hotel sector has been on. In 1999, there were 133 hotels and 4,983 bedrooms. At the start of 2024, there are 143 properties comprising 9,646 bedrooms. The average hotel now has sixty-seven bedrooms, twenty-five years ago it was 35 rooms. New hotel openings, expansion and refurbishments have seen a transformation of the sector which is dominated by four-star products. In the coming year, there
will be further growth with a couple of new openings and expansions which should see bed stock rise by a further 2%. There are over sixty projects at varying stages of concept, creation, and construction. Forecasting when they will come to market is a skill that would require a very active and reliable crystal ball or possibly time travel. The market will grow but with innumerable moving parts, it is hard to pin down exactly when.
Since pre-pandemic times, there have been predictions of hotel stock breaking the 10,000-bedroom barrier. In 2019, the thoughts were that this milestone was imminent and likely to be achieved by the end of 2020. Circumstances saw construction stall, but expansion is firmly back on the radar and one of the big questions is will this milestone moment happen in 2024,
The answer to this and many other questions will be revealed in our latest hotel report which is due to be launched at the Business Outlook Seminar - so don’t forget to book your ticket and get the inside track!
43% OF THE HOTEL BEDROOMS IN NORTHERN IRELAND ARE CLASSIFIED 4-STAR OR ABOVE.
£1.5 BILLION INVESTED SINCE 1999
£1.5bn 2 2%
Enter online by 22nd March 2024
The Federation is celebrating its 25th Anniversary in 2024 and we would like to recognise all those unsung heroes who contribute so much to our industry.
You just need to complete the online form, which includes a section to explain why you think your nominee is deserving of an award. All nominations will be judged by an independent panel.
All those that are selected as heroes, along with their nominator, will attend a special awards reception in The Observatory of the Grand Central Hotel on Thursday 25th April 2024.
Each Hero will receive a specially commissioned trophy.
Any accommodation member of the Federation can enter but there can only be one nomination per establishment so choose carefully.
» Construction of new member, Dunluce Lodge, is well underway beside Royal Portrush Golf Club. The hotel is aiming to open this autumn.
A new luxury spa at Crowne Plaza Belfast has opened its doors to clients. BodySpa has been developed in partnership with the renowned TEMPLESPA luxury spa brand, using their holistic ethos in a range of treatments.
BodySpa Shaw’s Bridge is the only spa in Northern Ireland to partner with TEMPLESPA. The development represents an investment of over £200,000 by Andras Hotels.
The Killyhevlin Hotel has relaunched its flagship event suite following a £250,000 refurbishment project, driven by a 20 per cent increase in its conference and events business in 2023. The upgraded Lisgoole Suite features a dedicated entrance, arrival reception / break out area and lakeview terrace and can accommodate up to 500 delegates.
The investment includes new furnishings, carpets, fireplace, bespoke art deco inspired window screens and new feature lighting. The modern interiors are complimented by the floor to ceiling windows which offer inspiring panoramic views of Lough Erne, leading onto a private furnished exterior terrace area.
Hastings is celebrating the tenth anniversary of its Management Ambassador Programme in partnership with the Ulster University and has appointed 12 Trainee and Assistant Managers from across the group to take part in the 2024 intake.
Over the last 10 years, over 50 employees have taken part, including three of the current Hastings Hotels’ General Managers, Andy McNeill of the Europa Hotel, Scott Weatherup of Ballygally Castle and Sam Denning of Ballygally Castle.
The six-month programme gives participants the opportunity to obtain a Level 4 Accredited CPD qualification.
Every detail in King Koil’s handmade bedding is crafted for a magnificent sleep. As the exclusive bed supplier to Dromoland Castle Hotel, we are honoured that Tripadvisor guests reviewed it to be the world’s best hotel for sleep 2023.
Kevin O’Neill
+44 7801 254940
kevin.oneill@kaymedworld.com
kingkoil-hotel.com
» Not strictly Member News, but our Chief Executive, Janice Gault, attended Buckingham Palace recently to collect her MBE. Well done Janice!
Galgorm Collection has officially launched a new, groundbreaking loyalty initiative, Galgorm Rewards.
This programme encompasses the Galgorm Collection portfolio; Galgorm, the Rabbit Hotel & Retreat, The Old Inn, and the Fratelli and Parisien restaurants in Belfast.
It enables registered visitors and guests to unlock real value and new possibilities when they redeem their points for a variety of Galgorm Col-
lection reward vouchers which they can use themselves.
Effective immediately, the new loyalty programme means visitors and guests can check their balance and redeem their Galgorm Rewards at any time. The App is available to download at the Apple App Store and through Google Play.
Andras Hotels has completed the re-branding of the Riverside Hotel in Coleraine to the Ibis Coleraine.
Rob Rees has been appointed as the new Group Head of People & Culture for Hastings Hotels.
Rob has 15 years’ of experience including senior roles at Next, Domino’s Pizza Group and Costa Coffee.
In his new role, Rob is responsible for crafting and supporting a People Experience, which positions Hastings Hotels Group, as a leading employer of choice in Northern Ireland.
Sam Denning has been appointed as the new general manager of the Everglades Hotel in Derry-Londonderry.
Sam has over 13 years’ experience in the hospitality industry and has previously worked in management positions across the Hastings Hotels group including the Culloden Estate & Spa, Ballygally Castle and Stormont Hotel.
Rewarding the best housekeeping teams.
The Federation celebrated the Housekeeping Team of the Year competition at La Mon Hotel on 28th February.
Hosted by Cool FM’s Rebecca McKinney, the event has gone from strength to strength since its inception in 2010, a testament to the important role of housekeeping in the hotel industry. This year’s record entry evidences the recognition of the role housekeeping plays in the delivery of an excellent guest experience with hoteliers keen to reward and recognise their contribution to a successful hotel performance.
The winners and runners-up in each category were:
Hotels with under 50 Rooms
Winner: The Harrison
Runner-up: Killeavy Castle Estate
Third Place: Gregory by the Warren Collection
Hotels with 50-99 Rooms
Winner: Killyhevlin Lakeside Hotel
Runner-up: Belmore Court & Motel
Hotels with 100-149 Rooms
Winner: Ten Square Hotel
Runner-Up: Hilton Templepatrick
Third Place: Titanic Hotel Belfast
Hotels with 150 Rooms and over
Winner: Slieve Donard
Runner-Up: AC Hotel Belfast
Third Place: Galgorm
Eddie McKeever, President, said: “The housekeeping competition was launched over a decade ago and is always one of our most popular events. Tonight marks the 13th year of this competition which started during my father’s presidency in 2010. Housekeeping has often been overlooked but the department underpins the running of a successful hotel and is an integral part of the bedroom revenue stream. I would like to congratulate everyone who took part.”
Mr McKeever emphasised the collaboration that makes this event successful and thanked sponsors for their invaluable support. Linencare, Bath Fitter, and Bunzl Rafferty Guest Amenities were acknowledged for
their category support, Tourism Northern Ireland for supporting the overall competition, and King Koil as the associate sponsor.
“This is another example of excellent collaboration, and I would like to thank our sponsors for supporting the competition. Industry partners not only assist with the staging of the competition but help raise awareness of the importance of housekeeping,” added Eddie McKeever.
The teams went through a very rigorous judging process to reach this stage. They completed three housekeeping tasks at an assessment day in Belfast’s Room2 Hometel and had a surprise inspection of bedrooms, bathrooms and public areas by a professional hotel inspector.
The Housekeeping Awards continue to be a cornerstone in recognising and celebrating the vital role played by housekeeping teams in ensuring the success of the hotel industry.
For 40 years, Bath Fitter has revolutionized bath renovation. Our process puts a new bath or shower in place in as little as one day, with no messy demolition. Best of all, our product is built to last for a lifetime.
Bath Fitter manufactures, supplies and installs new baths, shower trays and full wall wraps without removing the old ones. A new bathroom can be achieved in as little as one day.
Tourism Ireland in New York launched its marketing plans for 2024 in early February, at an event attended by leading US travel industry representatives and media from the tri-State area. The event also included a panel discussion, moderated by renowned travel broadcaster Gabe Saglie.
Tourism Ireland aims to increase the value of overseas tourism to the island of Ireland, by an average of +5.6% per year over the next six years to 2030. The organisation will also sustainably support the economies of communities across the island, growing revenue to Northern Ireland and the regions of Ireland by an average +6.5% per
year to 2030.
This year, Tourism Ireland will roll out an extensive and targeted programme of activity with a marketing budget of £61 million.
Tourism Ireland believes that 2024 offers significant opportunity for overseas tourism. Northern Ireland has an award-winning tourism product, a committed industry and there are excellent relationships in place with the international travel trade. There are opportunities to grow revenue, especially outside of the peak season when there is capacity ready to be filled.
TOURISM NI’S INNOVATIVE E-LEARNING PLATFORM NOW LIVE
Tourism NI is delighted to launch MyTourismNI, an innovative E-Learning platform for the tourism industry.
MyTourismNI is a dedicated innovative E-Learning platform specially developed to support the NI Tourism Industry to build expertise, knowledge, competence and confidence.
Free to access, you and your teams can choose from a range of learning modules, covering business-critical topics such as Sales and Marketing, Digital, Sustainability, People and Operational Effectiveness.
Find out more at tourismni.com/ mytourismni
Tourism continues to be a key economic driver, and across Northern Ireland the positive impact of tourism can be seen. Championing sustainable growth, innovative experience development and inspiring future generations will continue to be key themes for our industry.
Join us at the Tourism
Conference 2024 on 23rd April at Titanic Belfast – the largest gathering of tourism industry professionals from across Northern Ireland.
Save the date for inspirational speakers, lively panel debates and networking with peers.
Registration details to follow shortly.
TOURISM NI TOURISM CONFERENCE RETURNS FOR 2024
THE BUSINESS OUTLOOK SEMINAR IS ALWAYS ONE OF OUR MOST POPULAR EVENTS, HELPING HOTELIERS TO NAVIGATE HOTEL PERFORMANCE, MARKETING AND FINANCIAL GROWTH.
This year’s event will once again feature a broad and experienced speaking team. Here’s who you can expect to see on 20th March.
McGRIllEN,
A graduate of Trinity College Dublin holding a BA Hons and a Post Graduate Diploma in Management, Janice took up the role of CEO in 2002.
Appointed TI’s Head of Great Britain in June 2017, Julie is responsible for managing the largest market for tourism to the island of Ireland.
CEO of TNI since 2015, John cut his teeth in Belfast City and Down District Councils. A graduate of QUB, he also holds an MSc and an MBA.
large scale capital investment and strategic projects.
has more than 15 years of experience in tourism and events. She has helped more than 50 businesses gain a sustainability accreditation.
President of NIHF, Eddie is a graduate of Queen Margaret’s University and Managing Director of a group with 305 rooms and over 300 employees.
Shane is responsible for ICT, communications, customer relationship management, finance, human resources, as well as stakeholder engagement in Northern Ireland.
Sarah departed Irish shores in May 2005 having spent 7 years in hotel operations. As Director of Client Relationships, Sarah regularly presents at hotel group and industry events.
Director of Hotels in a group that has over 1500 rooms and 1700 people. Cliste recently bought the Radisson Blu Belfast and will relaunch it as the first Voco Hotel in NI later this year.
Alison joined Tourism NI in 2021 bringing with her over 16 years of experience working for tour operator, Virgin Holidays.
A graduate of the University of Oxford, Sian is an experienced marketeer and sustainability specialist who has worked at Britvic for over 18 years.
Gerardo is the Head of Hospitality Sector for Bank of Ireland but previously had a 15-year career in hospitality including roles with Dalata and Radisson.
Andrew has 25 years of experience providing economic advice and commentary across government, the private sector and academia.
Your chance to get the inside track on hotel performance, expansion and promotion, all helping to build a sustainable sector.
Clandeboye Lodge Hotel
Wednesday 20th March 2024
9.15 am to 2.00 pm including networking lunch
Hosted by veteran journalist Mark Simpson, we’ll be examining opportunities and issues for the coming year, looking at a reinvigorated hotel pipeline, the finance support required to underpin it and delving into the data with hotel performance and forecast from leading benchmarking firm STR.
Details on a new all-island sustainability scheme will be revealed with discussion on practical tips on how to grow and disperse economic benefit while understanding how green credentials are imperative to future success.
The event is ideally suited to general managers, hotel sales, marketing, and revenue managers as well as those who want a better understanding of the current market.
Tickets
£60 plus VAT for NIHF Members
£90 plus VAT for non-members
Book online at nihf.co.uk
Free report on hotel investment, growth and trends for every delegate.
Tea & Coffee & Breakfast Bites
Welcome, Introductions
The Hotel Landscape
NIHF on growth & trends
Hotel Performance 2024
Sarah Duignan, STR
Financing the Future Panel Discussion
Coffee Break
GB Market Insight
Julie Wakley, Tourism Ireland
Innovate Tourism
John McGrillen, Tourism NI
Responsible Growth
Sian Young, Britvic Ireland
A Sustainable Island Panel Discussion
Networking Lunch
Event Finish
Northern Ireland Hotels Federation
The McCune Building, 1 Shore Road, Belfast BT15 3PG
Tel: 028 9077 6635 Email: office@nihf.co.uk
For the past couple of years, Northern Ireland has been working towards an economic vision known as 10x. Launched in May 2021, 10x Economy set out an ambitious vision that would see the economy transform over the next decade.
There was little to quibble with in the three key aims, or triple bottom line, as they became known - to increase the number of companies undertaking innovation; to increase growth in an inclusive way; and, to deliver sustainability by increasing the use of renewable energy and reducing greenhouse gas emissions. The problem with 10x is that there was never any clear sense of what the actions were going to be to get us to an economy that is 10 times bigger. The bigger problem from a tourism and hospitality perspective is that this very important part of our economy felt like the poor relation compared to the priority afforded to areas like life sciences, financial services, cyber security etc.
For those that struggled with 10x, and we were many, there has been a welcome shift in recent weeks. The new Minister for the Economy has announced an Economic Vision that is made up of four objectives.
To create good jobs: I’m not entirely
sure if there is a firm definition of a ‘good job’ but it will invariably involve a decent wage. My reading suggests ‘good jobs’ go beyond pay scales and include elements like job security, flexibility, etc. The tourism and hospitality sector does have a reputational challenge when it comes to ‘good jobs’ but the more I get to know the sector, the more I understand that there are great employment and career opportunities in it. Operators need to embrace the ‘good jobs’ theme and shout more about the good jobs they already provide.
Regional Balance: the Minister stated that everyone, no matter where they live, should have the same opportunity to earn a living. When speaking about regional balance, tourism got a specific mention by the Minister. One of the major strengths of the tourism sector is that it brings economic opportunity to every corner of Northern Ireland. I have often felt this has been undervalued by our policy makers so it is great to tourism getting the ‘name check’ it deserves for regional balance.
Raise Productivity: Our productivity gap with the rest of the UK, and indeed with Ireland, has been a concern for as long as I can
remember. The approach to solving it (as yet without any success) is to chase ‘high value sectors’ and try and get our firms to be more innovative. I fear tourism was often written off as a ‘low value added’ sector when it comes to improving our productivity. Maybe it is ‘lower value added’ but there are plenty of innovations that tourism and hospitality can adopt to drive greater productivity.
Reduce carbon emissions: The economic opportunity from transitioning to a net carbon zero economy by 2050 is massive and it is good to see that recognised in the minister’s new vision. The tourism sector has a significant role to play here but there is a lack of clarity from government here on what needs to be done, and how government can support it.
Economic strategies come and economic strategies go. They are rarely much different from one to the next but this economic vision from Minister Murphy feels like there is more for tourism and hospitality to be interested in than the 10X strategy. I wonder if I’m right? The proof of these strategies usually comes in the action plans. I will watch with interest and, for the first time in ages, optimism.
THE FEDERATION’S ANNUAL SEARCH FOR THE BEST IN CUSTOMER SERVICE IS NOW OPEN FOR APPLICATIONS.
Originally created in the 1970s and re-launched in 2004, this competition is about recognising the very best in customer service in a vital role for all hotels. Challenging, but fun, with great team building and personal development.
The Assessment Day for individual entrants is on 16th April in the Clayton Hotel Belfast, further interviews are on 24th April and the Gala Awards are on 22nd May in the Killyhevlin Lakeside Hotel.
There is also a team competition with mystery shops.
Enter at nihf.co.uk by Friday 29th March.
MEMBERS AND TRADE GATHERED IN DUNADRY HOTEL AND GARDENS FOR THE FEDERATION’S BI-ANNUAL NETWORKING LUNCH
In a world of constant change and shifting priorities, the tourism sector emerges as a dynamic force for good, ready to shape and contribute to the Economic Mission outlined by the Minster for the Economy, Conor Murphy, on 15th February. With a focus on Good Jobs, Regional Growth, Productivity and Net Zero, the Minister recognises the crucial role of tourism and hospitality in transforming the economy. As the draft tourism strategy takes form, let’s look at the ways in which tourism can actively contribute to the achievement of the economic vision.
– Tourism possess a unique power to catalyse economic growth and job creation. NITA’s collaboration with Grant Thornton in 2023, produced an impact model that revealed the sector’s farreaching contribution. For 2021, tourism contributed 5% to the NI economy with an economic impact of £2.3bn and supporting 7% of total jobs. Around 70% of visitor spend is by visitors from outside of NI meaning tourism is a significant export sector.
– Beyond economics, tourism is an exciting and dynamic industry that brings about numerous social benefits. Attracting visitors directly injects spending, jobs and infrastructure investment into communities across the North, supporting regional growth. This helps preserve and celebrate local culture and heritage, fostering community pride. Moreover, tourism’s role in developing visitor experiences leads to the provision of additional local
services and offers opportunities for entrepreneurship, diversification and creating pathways into work for those furthest from the job market.
–Northern Ireland’s innovative tourism businesses play a crucial role in adapting and developing products and services. This ensures authentic, quality experiences that encourage longer stays and increased spending.
Employment and Social Mobility – Tourism is am inclusive employer that offers a diverse range of desirable career paths for everybody. Data from the Department for the Economy’s report on the Future of Tourism, recognises the industry’s commitment to inclusivity. 54% of tourism employees are female, 15% of 16-24 year-olds are employed in the industry and 14% of the workforce is identified as Equality Act disabled (the highest of any economic sector). Tourism truly is a beacon for diversity and social mobility.
Environmental Responsibility and Net Zero – Amid the urgent call for environmental sustainability, tourism is stepping up to the challenge. Businesses are showcasing adaptability and innovation in addressing eco-friendly tourism practices, conservation efforts and community engagement initiatives. Through sustainable practices, responsible tourism guidelines and support for conservation projects, the tourism industry is making significant strides towards contributing to the goal of becoming a net zero economy.
Cultural Bridges – Tourism’s remarkable capacity to bridge cultures fosters mutual understanding and appreciation. By showcasing and preserving cultural treasures, historical landmarks and indigenous traditions, tourism not only attracts visitors but instils a sense of pride in our society.
In conclusion, as we embark on the journey of finalising the tourism strategy, there lies an opportunity to align it seamlessly with the Economic Mission. The multifaceted nature of tourism positions it as a key player in driving regional economic growth, championing environmental sustainability, preserving cultural heritage and providing good jobs and career pathways. By harnessing the power of tourism, Northern Ireland has the potential to pave the way for a thriving, sustainable and culturally enriched future. It is crucial to recognise and harness the immense potential of tourism as a catalyst for sustainable economic growth. The force for good is within our grasp, ready to shape the tomorrow we aspire to create.
DR JOANNE STUART OBE
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Within the exciting landscape of Hospitality, it is essential to ensure workers’ legal rights are recognised and respected. Importantly, you have the necessary records in place to prove that your business is doing this. In Northern Ireland, hoteliers must adhere closely to The Working Time Regulations (Northern Ireland) 2016 and the National Minimum Wage Regulations 2015. This article explores rest breaks that workers in the hotel industry are entitled to, and the record-keeping requirements for hoteliers, ensuring litigation and HMRC action is avoided.
The Working Time Regulations (Northern Ireland) 2016 state that where workers work six or more hours in one day, they are entitled to at least a 20-minute uninterrupted rest break away from their workstation. A young worker (under 18) who works more than four and a half hours in one day is entitled to a 30-minute rest break. There is no requirement that staff breaks are paid, and these breaks must not be taken at the beginning or end of a shift.
In terms of daily rest breaks, workers must have an 11-hour break between shifts, with young workers entitled to 12 hours. Workers are also entitled to 24 hours clear of work weekly, or alternatively they must attain 48 hours clear of work each fortnight. Young workers must have 48 hours clear of work each week. Staff must not work over 48 hours weekly unless an optout agreement in writing has been signed, although young workers cannot sign such an agreement. It is vital workers are compensated for extra time worked and they
can decide to cancel their opt-out agreement with a week’s notice.
The National Minimum Wage Regulations 2015 outline records to be kept by employers for workers. To satisfy NMW requirements, evidence of hours worked over a particular period, any unpaid working time, evidence of payments, any deductions to pay, any periods of absence and associated pay due to this, any additional time worked, contracts of employment, and personal and contact details, should be kept for all staff. It is a criminal offence to breach these requirements.
Due to these stringent legal requirements, there must be a system in place ensuring employee breaks are recorded. If breaks are unrecorded HMRC can find workers have been paid inaccurately compared to their time records, and thus that staff could have been underpaid, a criminal offence from the hotelier. It is also subject to a financial penalty.
In terms of the practicalities of recording breaks, a robust system can be implemented electronically or via a manual record sheet. If utilising manual recording, the sheet should list the date, name, start and end time of the break, with the signature of every worker to signify agreement with the record’s accuracy. There are also requirements for records to be in a form that enables worker’s payment details over a pay reference period to be produced in a single document. The records are required to be kept by the employer for a 3-year period from the start of the next pay reference period, however,
the employer must keep payment records demonstrating a worker has been paid at least the NMW for a 6-year period. Records of work staff’s annualised hours are required by law to be kept in computerised form. Hoteliers should be aware that these requirements apply not only to employees working under contract, but also to casual staff and zero-hours workers.
For hoteliers unsure of their obligations under the legislation or for any more general hospitalitybased queries, seeking legal advice from experienced and prudent solicitors can be worthwhile to optimise business and avoid any potential legal pitfalls.
If you have any queries please contact Linus Murray OR Andrea McCann at McKees on 028 9023 2303 or linus.murray@mckees-law. com or andrea.mccann@mckeeslaw.com
The HATS network continues to maximise partnerships to influence and inform skills policy, leverage funding support and resources for skills and professional development as well as sharing best practices with industry to help grow a future talent pipeline and an industry reputation as a place that people of all ages aspire to work in. Recent activities deployed by HATS include:
• Launch of a joint skills paper: ‘Policy Focus: People and Skills’ with the NI Tourism Alliance (NITA) to communicate the current skills challenges facing industry and outline the priorities and actions required across multiple stakeholders for the industry to reach its full potential.
• Response to the draft Tourism Strategy consultation by the Department for the Economy reflecting the need for a robust People and skills element within the strategy and ensuring an approach to support better cohesion of skills and tourism policy that maximises relevance, visibility and impact of relevant skills solutions.
• Profiling the importance of tourism in the skills agenda in an introductory meeting with the chair of the Northern Ireland Skills Council, Kathleen O’Hare. The NI Skills Council plays a crucial role in shaping skills policies for NI and HATS looks forward to continuing the dialogue with the advisory body to collaborate and inform their work to positively impact skills in tourism.
• Launch of a new Employer Guide to Apprenticeships as part of National Apprenticeship week to help sector employers look afresh at how apprenticeships can be used to build the skills of the workforce and increase diversity. The guide unlocks insights on:
• What & why - demystifying apprenticeships & their benefits
• Types & options - finding the perfect fit for business needs
• Implementation made easystreamlined steps to launch a programme
• Funding & resourcesmaximising their value
• Roles & responsibilities –driving collaborative success
• A partnership with the Women Breaking Barriers project, which aims to support six hundred women into the labour market over the next two years, kicking off with an initial Insight event for their advisers and clients. Insightful and inspiring presentations from industry panellists showcased the industry as an attractive career option for women looking to re-enter the workforce. The need for an inclusive labour market has never been more pressing. Women represent a significant portion of the inactive population, presenting a valuable opportunity of potential talent for the sector.
• Improving workplace attractiveness –by joining forces with Tourism NI and Hospitality Ulster to promote the UK Wellbeing and Development Promise to employers. The
Promise provides guidance for employers on key areas such as tipping, flexible work, diversity and inclusion, and in-work progression, and is designed to galvanise action within the sector to achieve higher standards of employee wellbeing throughout the industry, helping to attract new applicants to the sector and improve retention.
• Strengthening alliance with Further and Higher Education – with the appointment of Dr Nikki McQuillan of Ulster University Business School and Leo Murphy, Chair of the FE College Principals’ Group and Principal and Chief Executive of North West Regional College (NWRC) to the HATS Executive Steering Group. Collaboration amongst industry and delivery partners is a fundamental principle of the HATS Network and the welcomed additional representation from further and higher education offers a real boost in supporting the aim of building a sustainable workforce in tourism.
To find out more about HATS, access a wealth of free resources and sign up for updates visit hatsnetwork.co.uk
The HATS network project is supported by Invest Northern Ireland under its Collaborative Growth Programme, Tourism Northern Ireland and the Northern Ireland Hotels Federation.
