BUSINESS NEWS


The chancellor has disappointed high street travel businesses by declining to look afresh at business rates


Reeves dashes retailers’ hopes on business rates


Chancellor insists any review will be limited to the pub sector. Ian Taylor reports


Hopes of a government reprieve on hikes in business rates for high street businesses including travel agencies have been dashed by chancellor Rachel Reeves. Speaking at the World Economic


Forum in Davos last week, Reeves appeared to make a U-turn on a U-turn by rowing back on a pledge to consider additional support on business rates for the hospitality sector when questioned about a concession promised to pubs. She said the government “will be setting out the detail in the


96 29 JANUARY 2026


next few days” but insisted: “The situation pubs face is different.” A Treasury official said the


government would listen to the concerns of other sectors but insisted: “This package is for pubs.” Only a week earlier, the


chancellor had suggested support would be provided in a “balanced way that particularly supports our pubs and hospitality sector” and officials had indicated the Treasury was considering help for hotels, restaurants and cafes. Representatives of the wider


retail sector, including Abta, have also called for relief. Abta chief Mark Tanzer insisted


this month that “any changes to business rates must benefit all high street retailers, including travel agents. It can’t be right to only extend help to certain sectors.” The November Budget promised


a lower level of business rates for smaller businesses with a surtax on larger premises to pay for the


Continued on page 94 travelweekly.co.uk


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