A NEW Hospitality Forum to represent, champion and support the sector has been announced.

The Hospitality Forum, formed by the York & North Yorkshire Chamber of Commerce, has a core purpose of giving the industry a voice and make sure it is recognised regionally, nationally and internationally.

Hospitality accounts for some 50,000 roles across North Yorkshire and is a cornerstone of the region’s economy whose impact runs far and wide in terms of its supply chain benefits, employment impact and supporting services.

The majority of the firms operating in this sector are SMEs and micro-businesses with only a handful of employees.

However, the pandemic and its aftermath have taken a heady toll on the commercial strength of the sector.

The cumulative impact of rising costs, recruitment and retention issues, access to finance, the drive towards net zero, inconsistent demand and how it is perceived as a career option have left many enterprises facing an uncertain future.

It will endeavour to ensure the hospitality sector is on the agendas of both central government and the region’s councils, encourage funding for the firms operating in the industry and share best practice within the sector.

It will also work alongside the Chamber’s Local Skills Improvement Plan to address any shortfalls in skills in the sector.

 

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