UKHospitality - sector 'must commit' to track and trace

A recent member survey carried out by UKHospitality showed that the 'vast majority' of businesses are taking appropriate measures to record customer visits, but recent reports of venues flouting the requirements have prompted the trade body to remind operators of the crucial need to do so.

It comes after a Sky News investigation​​ visited a variety of hospitality venues in one Greater Manchester suburb posing as walk-in customers, and found that most were not asking for customer contact details.

UKHospitality says that businesses must present a united front in showing team members, customers and Government that it is committed to providing safe spaces and supporting efforts to fight COVID-19.

“It is critical that pubs comply with the Government’s guidance on test and trace and our research shows the vast majority are doing so," says chief executive Kate Nicholls.

"Hospitality offers safe spaces for people to enjoy being with friends and family at the centre of our communities and high streets. We have a real responsibility to keep our customers, our teams and our communities safe and well. 

“Safety of customers and staff is paramount and to not comply potentially puts us at risk of a spike and another lockdown.

"Nobody wants that, given the awful commercial impacts of the initial lockdown.

"We need to get this right at the first time of trying and that includes implementing test and trace initiatives to keep people safe.

“Tracing schemes are a great way to do that.

"Collecting and providing the information is vital to helping break the chain of transmission and controlling the virus. It takes very little time, it helps to save lives and it can help prevent further lockdowns.

"It also shows our team members and our customers that we are professional, proactive and caring.

“The Government has afforded our sector valuable support and by showing that we can be relied upon, we can demonstrate our appreciation of their investment.

"We are an industry that prides itself in looking after people, so let’s show that we are proud to support public health objectives by recording customer visits.”

While not mandatory in England, the Government's advisory guide for hospitality operators includes asking businesses to keep a temporary record of all customers for 21 days in order to assist with the NHS Test and Trace scheme.