Sir Tim Smit
Co-Founder of the Eden Project
When this is all over, I am looking forward to all of us taking nothing for granted; our health, our environment, our friendships and family, not even the politics and economics that shape our lives. I hope we will live as if each day is special and to be treasured.
I hope also that all of us in the hospitality industry realise that we make the moments that will form the soundtrack to our lives and knowing this, we strive to make everyone who touches us feel that and our recognition of the privilege of being invited to shape those things – from a pint of beer with a smile, to a cup of tea with a story, to the visible care being shown to the environment we share, so that our colleagues and fellow travellers feel the same.
Smile, I say. It may have been bad but sometimes we need to be reminded of what is important and that makes us a wiser person and a more forgiving one. Yes, as I write these words, I know things have changed and our focus and understanding of what we do should move with the times.
We are in the contentment and special moments business; the stage is set for drawing the best out of ourselves and our guests. There is nobility here.
Luke Johnson
Chairman, Risk Capital Partners
When this is all over, I’m looking forward to:
Being a human again, socialising and living life to the full, rather than being afraid and isolated.
No one wearing masks, with customers seeing our staff smile and staff seeing happy diners.
Customers dancing in our nightclubs to groovy music until the early hours.
The public being able to celebrate birthdays, anniversaries, graduations, engagements and every other important moment in life over a meal with friends and family.
Brilliant theatrical performances at the Almeida Theatre, which I chair, in front of a packed auditorium.
Wild evenings at our Assembly venues at the Edinburgh Festival Fringe, full of laughter and the unpredictable.
Staying at lovely hotels in renewed cities which are once again buzzing with people having a great time, making friends, falling in love and enjoying themselves.
A hospitality industry which has regained its confidence and zest for life and innovation – creating jobs, offering patrons a memorable time and generating tax and wealth for our communities.
Kate Nicholls OBE FIH
CEO, UKHospitality
There seems to be precious little reason to be positive at the minute. Do not despair, though. Even if things seem bleak, there are reasons to be optimistic about the future. Once we have made it through this crisis, and we will make it through, the hospitality sector is in a position to play a valuable role in helping rebuild the economy.
If we look at a snapshot of our sector as it stands at this moment, there is still demand from the public to socialise in our venues, even though options are severely limited. There is clearly an appetite from large numbers of our customers to come together, to travel, to sightsee and try to relax during this stressful time. That demand will only increase once the pandemic has passed. It will certainly take time to rebuild profitability, but it will return.
An unexpected benefit of the travel restrictions placed on us will hopefully lead to a boost in domestic tourism. Consumers may take longer to return to foreign travel and there is every reason to hope that many people will have discovered the benefits of a break at home.
Throughout this crisis we have also seen examples of the ingenuity of our sector. Operators have adapted incredibly well to the restrictions placed upon them. The adaptability of hospitality, from redirecting food to key workers and the vulnerable at the start of lockdown, to the resourcefulness shown in getting premises open again, has been inspiring. Despite the setbacks, hospitality continues to prove it can rise to the challenge, and that is a reason to be positive.
Tom Kerridge
Michelin-starred chef and restaurant owner
I am very hopeful that life will get back to normal, that guests will be able to walk through the door and meet friends with a handshake, a hug and a European-style kiss on both cheeks; that our staff will be able to greet them without wearing a visor or a face-mask, so that people can see our smiles and warmth because guests are coming through the door. Confidence in eating out and socialising should be restored, and social connection should be bubbling away with good times, vibes, warm energy and laughter. There will, sadly, be some casualties, from big names to independents that we’ve never heard of but that mean so much to so many. These losses will disrupt people’s routines and create gaps in their lives, but more so, these voids will have a huge effect on the workforce and be reflected in the emptiness and the sadness of the owners. The industry will, however, bounce back stronger. Many changes to the way we work will stay: menu size, tighter risk assessments, firmer controls on costs and a new outlook on technology, even in the most traditional of restaurants
– QR codes or ordering systems reducing the amount of paper waste, for example. One of the biggest things we will have learnt from this is that we need a national voice for the industry, a strong hospitality union, a muscular group of lobbyists or our own hospitality minister. The second point of learning is that we all miss social interaction.
What hospitality offers is much more than a product, a bed to sleep in, food to eat or something to drink; the warmth of human connection is something that we all crave and it is to be celebrated.
Mark Lewis
Chief Executive, Hospitality Action
More than anything else, what I look forward to when we’ve slain the Covid-19 beast, is face to face interaction with my friends around the industry. Hospitality is a sector that attracts warm, friendly, emotionally generous people and I’m missing my pals from among its ranks.
Back in early July, many of us would have expected to be at the Catey awards. Harry Murray would have strode over to me, clasped his arms around me and clapped me on the back. Jonathan Raggett would have given me one of his trademark bone-crunching handshakes and I would have had lovely hugs from Amanda Afiya and Giovanna Grossi. Raymond Blanc would have given me a Gallic kiss on both cheeks and I would have been treated to Pervin Todiwala’s smile – guaranteed big enough to light up the Great Room at Grosvenor House.
Closer to home, in Gipsy Hill, South London, Yuksel, the Turkish owner of our favourite local restaurant, normally clasps me by the hand and then beats his heart with a clenched fist when we arrive for dinner.
Sadly, the Cateys was a virtual affair this year, and Yuksel and I are having to make do with fist bumps and elbow taps.
Roll on the end of social distancing!
‘When this is all over’ appeared as an article in the latest HQ Magazine. You can log in and view it online or via the IoH app; IoH Connect.
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