Hotelier demands to see exit strategy

A respected hotelier is calling on the Government to publish a clear exit strategy from the Level Five restrictions to be imposed from midnight tonight.

The General Manager of the Slieve Russell, Tony Walker, said:“I would like to know what that exit strategy is, not alone for the hotel industry, but for all hospitality. Effectively when we do re-open, we need to open at Level Two. Re-opening at Level Three would not be sustainable as, under Level Three, we are not allowed to have any indoor dining.”

He’s stressing that hotels need to be given certainty that they can reopen on December 1 on Level Two as it is one of their busiest months of the year.

Mr Walker also questioned the wisdom in closure leisure facilities during dark Winter months, expressing concern for people’s mental health. He is also seeking clarity on whether the hotel’s golf course can remain open.

“We will lose another hour of daylight this weekend. People are not allowed to come and use our gym, swimming pool and I believe they should be able to do that”.

“Keeping people cooped up in their houses at this time of the year is not on. It is not acceptable.I fear that we are going to be told to close our golf course. It could not be any more safe outside in fresh air. Members should not be restricted from going out to play nine holes of golf,”said Mr Walker.

The hotel boss says he hopes to retain most of the Russell’s 260 staff courtesy of the Wage Subsidy Scheme.

He also says the industry has already proven it can operate safely: “If you look at the breakdown for clusters since COVID-19 came to our shores, they have identified around 4,500 clusters and I believe that there are only three outbreaks that have been traced back to hotels.”

He added: “If it [lockdown] goes on... it will be devastating for us all, particularly if we lose the month of December.”

Mr Walker said businesses in the hospitality sector had gone “above and beyond” to implement good measures to prevent the spread of Covid yet are among the first to be closed.

‘Get the skies open again’

“They need to get the skies open again. There are a lot of fit and healthy people living across Europe that could come and visit Ireland, if we had a proper testing regime at the airports. That should be a priority for all the Governments across Europe to get an efficient testing regime put in place at airports,” said the hotel boss.

Northern Ireland business equates to almost half of the Russell’s overall business.

“We need a reduction of the VAT rate during 2022, when we hope to get tourism back on its feet again - not next year.

“Hopefully we get this virus under control and get back to some level of normality in our business lives again,” said Mr Walker.

The Slieve Russell remains open to look after essential workers in compliance with Covid guidelines. Staff are also liaising with couples who had weddings booked for November in an effort to find alternative dates.