Hospitality APPG elects new chair
Announced yesterday (Thursday 5 September), the group was revised with Chris Webb, Labour MP for Blackpool South, elected as its new chair and Damian Hinds (Conservative MP for East Hampshire, as its Vice-Chair.
Caroline Voaden, Lib Dem MP for South Devon, and Daniel Aldridge (Labour MP for Weston-super-Mare, were also elected as vice-chairs of the group.
APPGs are informal cross-party groups with no official status within Parliament, run by and for Members of the Commons and Lords, though many choose to involve individuals and organisations from outside Parliament in their administration and activities.
Beating heart
The hospitality and tourism APPG acts as a vehicle for backbench Parliamentarians, from both the Houses of Commons and Lords, to influence the Government’s policy making on the key issues within the sectors.
Combined, both industries employ more than 3.5m people and generate more than £140bn in revenue annually.
Webb said: “I’m delighted to be elected the chair of the All-Party Parliamentary Group for hospitality and tourism, sectors which are close to my heart and my constituency of Blackpool South.
“They are the beating heart of coastal towns like Blackpool, supporting thousands of jobs, bringing in millions in revenue and helping to regenerate communities.
Positive impact
“The cross-party support the group has reinforces this positive impact and demonstrate the commitment to the sector from across Parliament.
“I’m looking forward to working with the APPG to champion causes critical to hospitality and tourism and being one their loudest advocates in Parliament.”
It comes as the sector faces multiple legislative changes, including a proposed outdoor smoking ban and increased packaging costs, as well as a myriad of rising costs.
With the Autumn Budget set to take place next month, industry bodies from across the sector have repeated calls for support in the form of a permanent VAT reduction, cuts to duty and business rates reformation.
