National Hospitality Day to return to celebrate 'resilient' industry

A National Hospitality Day celebrating the industry and organised by leading sector charities is to return later this year.

The first event, held last autumn, called on the nation to visit their favourite hospitality venue while operators were invited to put on activities and offers to celebrate the sector and its suppliers.

Businesses were asked to incorporate a fundraising element into their activities to support charities including Hospitality Action, Springboard, the Drinks Trust and the Licensed Trade Charity, and over £50,000 was raised as a result.

The event will return this year on 16 September. Organisers said: "Once again it will be a showcase of our brilliant and resilient hospitality industry and the wonderful people who work within it.

"We’re calling on operators to do what they do best, delight their customers and show people a good time."

Fundraising for the event will be simple. Organisers are encouraging businesses to offer guests a free signature drink or dish, then asking the customer to pay-it-forward to National Hospitality Day via a QR code.

The event comes as the sector struggles with rising costs on top of ongoing acute staffing shortages.

National Hospitality Day, which is supported by trade bodies including UKHospitality and the Institute of Hospitality, is a chance to remind the public of the "huge role" the industry plays in local communities and the wider economy, organisers said.

Mark Lewis, chief executive of Hospitality Action, which conceived the concept, said: “The first National Hospitality Day was an inspirational showcase of our resilient sector and the brilliant people who work within it.

"We want to throw the mother of all parties this September to help our industry continue its recovery and support the people whose lives have gone backwards over the last few years.”

Chris Gamm, chief executive of the Springboard Charity, said: "By supporting National Hospitality Day, the public can provide a vital injection of trade which could save their favourite places from closure."

Hospitality businesses looking to participate in the day can register their interest at www.nationalhospitalityday.org.uk