So, it’s a resounding victory for the meetings and hospitality industry as the Government announces that they do not intend to introduce a bed tax.
Just hours after the Lyons Inquiry recommended ‘a consultation on the proposal’ local Government Minister Phil Woolas made his welcome announcement ‘The Government does not intend to introduce a tourism tax’.
Quite apart from being great news this has been an excellent demonstration of what those of us within the meetings and hospitality industry can achieve by working together. We’ve all made our voices heard, the MIA have lobbied with the Business Tourism Partnership, four thousand hoteliers signed the Caterer’s bed tax petition and you just have to search the internet to find organisations from Butlins to the Bed & Breakfast Association ‘saying no to bed tax’. It’s a demonstration of unity that has attracted support from outside the industry and this quite obviously has had a great deal of bearing on the Government’s decision.
What’s next, how about stopping the Government’s UK road charging plan in its tracks? Without doubt this could affect the meetings industry as organisations choose to save money on less effective meetings in their own offices, rather than taking to the road. Or perhaps you have a better idea, what other benefits can we achieve by uniting as an industry?
Over to you…………….. click on comments link below
Jane Evans
Chief Executive
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Hi Jane
What a resounding victory! With England hosting the 2012 Olympics I couldn't understand why the Government would want increase the costs for international travelers even more with adding additional charges to an already expensive tourism destination.
Transport is a very BIG issue especially when you compare it to the rest of Europe. Typical of the Government to want to charge a road tax without offering alternative solutions such as additional public transport, trains that run on time and don't use every excuse in the book on why they are NEVER on time: too hot, too cold, too wet, snow and my favourite "we don't have any staff". Additionally they keep increasing the charges without the traveler ever seeing any direct benefit from it - what is happening to that money?? What about the increased area of congestion charge zone - how do the hotels, venues and businesses in the extended area feel and how will this affect business tourism?
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