Managers of Bristol’s top hotels were this afternoon meeting West of England Mayor Dan Norris for crisis talks over the worst staffing shortage in the sector for decades.
As the city’s hotels count down the days to July 19, when they will be able to reopen fully for the first time in 16 months, they also fear the impact of a lack of workers. 
This afternoon’s meeting was arranged by Visit West, the region’s destination marketing organisation. Bristol Hoteliers Association (BHA), which represents 40 hotels in and around the city with around 4,000 rooms between them, was invited to take part.
Earlier this year the BHA estimated its members would create around 500 job opportunities when they threw open their doors to guests.
But chair Raphael Herzog said the biggest challenge now facing hotels and other hospitality businesses was being able to recruit the staff they need in order to provide the levels of service customers will expect.
Bars and restaurants around the city have also been impacted by the shortage, with some being forced to reduce opening hours at a time when they are desperate for to welcome customers.
A combination of Covid and Brexit has affected the ability or desire of Europeans to work in the UK hospitality industry, leaving venues with a staffing nightmare.
Mr Herzog, pictured above, said he wanted to see what help Mayor Norris could offer to ease the crisis.
“We’re working extremely hard to promote the hospitality industry as a sector which offers rewarding and enjoyable long-term careers, rather than short-term jobs for students,” he said.
“While hospitality does provide many young people their first step into the world of work. It’s more important than ever to show them that there is a wide range of diverse, long-term, career opportunities and fantastic experiences to be had within our dynamic and diverse sector.” 
The latest UK jobs report by accountancy group KPMG and recruitment industry group REC showed the South of England has experienced the steepest rate of vacancy growth, but also the steepest decline in supply of permanent workers, since the survey began 24 years ago.
Ian Brokenshire, senior partner for KPMG in the South West, pictured right, said: “This has led to widely-reported staff shortages particularly in the hospitality and tourism sectors on which the region so heavily relies.
“Local employers have clearly been buoyed by the government’s plans to effectively end lockdown on July 19, which would represent another significant step on the road to economic recovery.
“However, they now face the challenge of finding the staff to match their appetite for reopening. After such a difficult 18 months for jobseekers, hopefully a balance will quickly be established in the coming weeks and months.”
