Falling on 18 September, National Hospitality Day will be a nationwide celebration of the UK’s restaurants, pubs, hotels, bars and foodservice outlets, and the suppliers that support them and will provide a chance for the country to say ‘welcome back, we’ve missed you’ by supporting its favourite places, according to the charity.
Operators and suppliers are being encouraged to support the day with activities, offers and events, says Hospitality Action, whether it be hosting a gala dinner with guest chefs, arranging a Q&A with a local celebrity, offering on free nibbles and entertainment; or cooking a hog roast in the garden.
“Whatever you do, the common aim is for participating businesses to showcase the industry at its best: creative, entertaining, nourishing, engaging – at the hub of our communities, and providing jobs and income for the country,” it says.
The charity is also asking participating businesses to build a fundraising element into their activities, to support UK hospitality’s four main charities: The Drinks Trust, Hospitality Action, The Licensed Trade Charity and The Springboard Charity.
National Hospitality Day will marks the first time the hospitality sector’s main associations, bodies and charities have joined forces. Participating organisations include UKHospitality, The Institute of Hospitality, the British Beer & Pub Association and the British Institute of Innkeeping.
“The hospitality industry has been the hardest hit by the pandemic, with thousands of businesses and livelihoods lost. Even as the economy slowly unlocks, the hospitality sector is still unable to fully re-open with restrictions keeping businesses closed or struggling to turn a profit,” says Mark Lewis, Hospitality Action chief executive.
“The hospitality industry provides community hubs, employment and a huge contribution to the public purse. Our lives will be poorer without them. On one amazing day, we’re going to spark the mother of all parties – and all to help the businesses that have been thrown to their knees by Covid-19, and the people who work in them.”
Hospitality businesses looking to participate in National Hospitality Day can register their interest at www.nationalhospitalityday.org.uk.