Pubs can help drive economic recovery, says new BHA boss

Pubs, bars, hotels and restaurants could be the engine of the UK economy's recovery, says the new head of the British Hospitality Association (BHA).

Ufi Ibrahim, who took up her new post last week, said hospitality was a "key pillar" of the UK economy and its future.

"BHA members represent 40,000 establishments and employ 500,000 people directly. We are the engines of tourism, the UK's fifth largest industry, now worth £115bn.

"And as demand for leisure, travel and recreation continues to grow across the world, the potential for the hospitality industry to grow its contribution to GDP and jobs across Britain is hugely significant," she said.

Ibrahim warned the challenges of operating on a highly competitive international tourism stage were considerable.

"How British hospitality meets that competition - and how much support it receives from government in doing so - will dictate how well it succeeds in the next decade and beyond," she said.

Ibrahim argued that a "dynamic vision and a unified voice representing all our members and partners, with pro-active and timely action", had to be critical components of the BHA's strategy.

"Our mission is clear: we will work closely together with industry, government and all our partners to strengthen and consolidate the hospitality industry's role in driving the forward-thinking policies that will enable the industry to meet our many future challenges.

"Only by doing this will we be able to sustain the industry's profitable growth - growth that is critical to our future success," she concluded.