The UK hospitality industry is divided in its opinion on the likely impact of Brexit, with 24% of UK accommodation business owners saying they expect to see a boost in visitor numbers as a result of Brexit, according to a report from TripAdvisor.
Some 20% anticipate staffing issues with the restaurant standing out as more pessimistic: more than 40% of restaurant owners anticipate staffing issues as a result of Brexit. Just 7% of UK restaurant owners expect to see any positive impact from Brexit in terms of custom.
Almost 50% of UK hospitality business owners cite global economic conditions as a concern – above the global average.
Despite these concerns, 41% of UK business owners are investing in customer service, compared with 38% of owners in the rest of Europe.
In the UK, 90% of accommodation businesses said they are focusing on online booking in 2018, with online reputation and reviews regarded as important for 93% of accommodation owners.
TripAdvisor Global Director of Industry Relations Sally Davey said: “The Hospitality Sector Report shows that whatever concerns they may have about the impact of external factors such as the economy and Brexit, hospitality businesses in the UK are investing heavily in their online presence and reputation. 77% of the hospitality professionals we surveyed said that they are focusing on working with the right online marketing services this year, showing the importance of having a solid online presence for a successful business.”
