Tourism minister in hotel price row
7:15pm Thursday 4th September 2008
Comments (10)HOTELIERS reacted with fury after tourism minister Margaret Hodge launched an attack on the industry.
She claimed British hotels were expensive and of "worrying quality" in an interview with influential magazine Holiday Which?
And her comments have been slammed as unhelpful and disappointing by those in the hotel trade in Bournemouth.
Alison Gandolfi, chairman of the Bournemouth Area Hospitality Association, said high tax levels in Britain make it difficult to compete with other countries and added: "I am disappointed by what she has said - perhaps she would like to do something about the tax levels."
The Boscombe hotelier said Bournemouth's own quality scheme exists to encourage high standards but added: "There are a small number of premises which are of concern but we are working to improve that."
Mike Francis, chairman of Bournemouth Tourism Management Board, added: "Margaret Hodge should come to Bournemouth to see what prices we charge here - some hotels in the town are under-priced.
"She should also be encouraging people in the trade, not knocking them."
Margaret Hodge attacked hotel standards as part of a wide-ranging blast against attractions in the country.
She said rush hour on the London Underground was "dreadful" and said poor facilities at Stonehenge could see it lose its World Heritage Site status.
Bournemouth council's head of tourism Mark Smith said: "Our hotels are among those offering the best value in the world and recent surveys have shown that.
"We also have the benefit of our own inspection scheme which ensures that local hotels are up to scratch."
He added: "The council is very keen to ensure that hotels are independently assessed."
Your Say YourThisisdorset
Adrian X, Poole says...
1:54am Fri 5 Sep 08
2Much, New Forest says...
7:33am Fri 5 Sep 08
I'm not sure whether hotels/guest houses pay business rates, but as always the costs are passed onto the consumer somewhere along the line.
Considering you can have better service at less cost in Barcelona..I know where I'd prefer to lay my head for a break!
Gastines, St.Malo ex Bournemouth says...
8:11am Fri 5 Sep 08
rayc, Poole says...
8:30am Fri 5 Sep 08
Martin, Bournemouth says...
8:36am Fri 5 Sep 08
We always charged per room, not per person, and charges were similar to those in France, for a 1 star (original star for hotel, not diamond for guest house).
We kept a good clean hotel, but good staff were hard to come by.
No, our tax and red tape make it punitive to make a living here, and with cost of finance and accountancy bills, there is little to be made for the owner; that's why the accountants and bankers were always pleased to hear from us!
I suggest the minister gives up her job, and works in the sector, for over 110 hours per week.
It is a way of life for a small breed of people; you love it or hate it.
With the way this "Government" treats everyone who works, it is a wonder that there are any hoteliers at all in this so called "Great" Britain.
Nickolai, Bournemouth says...
9:58am Fri 5 Sep 08
In Absentia, Bournemouth says...
10:35am Fri 5 Sep 08
When I went to York recently, the P&R was £2 for the day.
Gastines, St.Malo ex Bournemouth says...
11:21am Fri 5 Sep 08
Tim M, usa says...
2:12pm Fri 5 Sep 08
In this section
- MAN FIGHTS FOR LIFE AFTER ASSAULT IN BOSCOMBE
- Free events to mark Dorset beauty spot anniversary
- Man jailed after attack on police officer in Bournemouth
- Boost for Dorset charities
- Don’t buy flu drugs online, Dorset health experts warn
- Accident causes severe delays
- Drunks driving visitors away from Weymouth
- Elderly man dies after swimming off Weymouth Beach
- Record summer hope for Weymouth and Portland
- Police raid suspected drug factory in Bradpole
Sponsored Links
Local Information
Enter your postcode, town or place name
debbie2110, bournemouth says...
9:25pm Thu 4 Sep 08
The leisure industry has been struggling for years to attract staff with very few Britons seeing it as a career - most seeing it only as something to do part time or when you're a student! It will get worse too - the government ought to recognise that not all children are university material and should subsidise their training in hotels prepared to take them on. Good quality hotels are not very much cheaper in Spain or France and I paid £140 per night for a hotel in India where staff and running costs are very much cheaper than over here!
A lot of traditional accommodation with employment has disappeared over the years too - the government could help by subsidies for employers providing accommodation to those employees on minimum wage. This would also ease the issue of affordable housing as it is not only the leisure industry removing or cutting staff accommodation but also farms/nurseries, police force and hospitals.
With property price rises over the last decade too much of the tied accommodation has been sold on for quick profit making it even harder for these businesses to recruit than in the past. Support these people Margaret, as tourist minister you are supposed to be their champion and offer practical advise to both those in the leisure industry and parliament to help not hinder!