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Industry calls for clarity on Brexit
Ian Taylor
ian.taylor@travelweekly.co.uk
Industry leaders issued fresh calls for clarity on Brexit as the government plunged into crisis this week.
UKHospitality chief executive
Kate Nicholls demanded ministers “secure a Brexit deal that delivers our workforce and supply needs”. Addressing the association’s
conference on Monday, Nicholls warned of “real and significant threats to our industry”. Tourism minister Michael
Ellis told the conference: “The workforce challenges of Brexit will be most acute for hospitality.” However, he promised: “We’ll
take steps to give as much certainty as possible.” That did not satisfy Travelodge
chief executive Peter Gowers, who said: “We’ve been arguing for clarity for some time. It’s not enough to just carry on. Half of all workers in hotels in London are from the EU. If we don’t have a guest-worker programme, we’ll have hotels with no one to make the beds and an understaffed NHS.”
Gowers said: “The clock is
ticking and it’s time to tell the truth. We can’t suddenly replace the workforce the day after Brexit.” Bourne Leisure director Dermot King agreed, saying: “We employ 16,000 staff and half are non-British.” Cody Bradshaw, head of
European Hotels at Starwood Capital Group, said: “The danger is to the UK’s brand reputation.” Investor Luke Johnson, partner
at Risk Capital Partners, said: “My biggest fear is [Labour leader] Corbyn might get in. I’m taking [investment] money off the table.” The conference took place as
foreign secretary Boris Johnson and Brexit secretary David Davis resigned after prime minister Theresa May appeared to have won approval for a ‘soft’ Brexit plan, widely backed by business. Jeremy Hunt, Johnson’s
replacement as foreign secretary, warned of “Brexit paralysis” if more Tory MPs turn against May. The pound fell against the dollar and euro following the resignations, with analysts warning a leadership challenge would drive it lower.
Computer image
of ship’s seawater pool
Blue World seeks agent investors
Harry Kemble
harry.kemble@
travelweekly.co.uk
A former Starbucks president is looking for travel agents to help crowdfund a new wellness- themed cruise line he aims to launch next year.
Blue World Voyages has raised $675,000 so far from more than 37 crowdfunding investors, and the chief executive John Richards, a former Starbucks North America boss, hopes that will hit the $4.5 million mark. Crowdfunded contributions of no less than $500 will reportedly make up as much as 10% of funding and be used as a downpayment on a ship the line hopes to operate from May 2019. A deal to buy a 350-passenger
vessel is still to be finalised, but Blue World hopes to begin a six-month $26 million retrofit in October. It also plans to add two more vessels in the next five years. An additional $450,000 was
Tourism minister Michael Ellis: ‘The workforce
challenges of Brexit will be most acute for hospitality’
raised from a round of seed- funding in January and the line claims $5 million has been promised from “an industry source”. One unidentified UK-based
“Several agents have joined the Founders Club and have a vested interest”
travel agent has invested at least $500 and will become a member of Blue World’s Founders’ Club meaning they will be a preferred retail partner and consulted about fam trips and itineraries. Richards, who was chief
marketing officer at now-defunct Royal Viking Line, said: “Several agents have joined the Founders Club and have a vested interest.” A week-long cruise in a standard
suite will cost from $3,500, excluding port charges and flights. Blue World plans to sail in the
Mediterranean, Cuba, Costa Rica, Chile and Peru, and claims it will be the first line “fully dedicated to passengers’ active lifestyles”. One UK cruise agent was unsure about the project’s “unique” claims. The Cruise Village director Phil
Nuttall said he was “struggling” to see how Blue World’s wellness offering differed from that of established lines such as Silversea.
12 July 2018
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