HOSPITALITY chiefs have welcomed the announcement that hotels can open on July 20 for the first time since March but they say there are still questions unanswered by the move.
Colin Neill, head of Hospitality Ulster, has said the date gives hotels “hope” but says clarification is needed on “what hotels can now actually offer”.
“A date allows us to plan, allows suppliers to plan and also gives us hope,” Mr Neill has told BBC Radio Foyle.
However, Mr Neill says they still need confirmation of what hotels “will actually be able to be offer – apart from accommodation”.
Mr Neill questions whether the bars and restaurants that operate within hotels will be allowed to begin services again and has called on the executive to provide dates for all of the hospitality sector.
When they do reopen, bars and restaurants may not be able to serve pints of beer as the breweries have not been allowed to work over the COVID-19 threat.
Some even suggest it could be up to three months before fresh beer will be in the bar pumps.
“It is really now important we get firm dates around bars and restaurants, whether they be in hotels or outside them,” Mr Neill said.
“Judge businesses based on their safety and not their product.”
