“A lack of a clear independent identity has left the industry fighting for its life.”
HBAA reveals in a report published today that over 30 per cent of employees working in business events, accommodation and meetings agencies are at risk of redundancy from July 2020 onwards as the industry faces up to delayed and limited re-opening, cautious customers and the winding down of the furlough scheme.
The finding is one of many important points raised in “Business Events, Accommodation and Meetings – the need for special financial support and a clear identity” published by HBAA to coincide with a debate in the House of Commons on “Government to offer economic assistance to the events industry during COVID-19” following a petition signed by more than 150,000 people.
The report is being sent to the Department for Business Energy & Industrial Strategy (BEIS), Department for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport (DCMS) and MPs to push for support and action after the debate. Among the key recommendations is the need for the business events, accommodation and meetings sector to have its own Standard Industrial Classification code and consistent representation.
Co-operating with many associations and organisations including the Business Travel Association (BTA), Alliance of Independent Events Agencies (AIEA) and Advantage Travel Partnership, an HBAA survey found that 81 per cent of the 102 companies who responded anticipated making redundancies, and that 30.6 per cent of the workforce are likely to be made redundant in the next three months.