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More than 100 hotel owners and managers across Scotland have come together to warn Nicola Sturgeon of the detrimental effects the current Covid-19 restrictions are having on the industry.
The backlash has come in reaction to the new rule that prohibits the sale of alcohol in public areas to hotel guests.
According to the Telegraph, a letter to the First Minister insisted that without a relaxation of the current ban on serving guests alcohol they will see “job losses” and a “damaging drop in revenues”.
Jill Chalmers, the managing director of Glenapp Castle, said in the letter: “We urge you to reconsider this and allow hotel guests, staying a minimum of one night, to consume alcohol in all settings, not simply room service alone. In addition, we believe that we should be able to serve non-residents until 6pm, as a café is allowed to do.
“If there is no change, we have no doubt that we will suffer deeper losses. We are talking about trying to survive, not about profitability. Without this small change in your policy, there will be thousands more job losses in the coming month.”
She added that the alcohol ban “is threatening the small thread of revenue – a lifeline for many – which still exists for hotel businesses in Scotland at this difficult time.”
The new rules, introduced by Sturgeon on 9 October, prohibit hotels from selling alcohol to any guests – with exemptions made for funerals and weddings.
However, under the regulations, cafés are allowed to remain open until 6pm if they are not deemed to be “restaurants”.
