Hospitality association membership increases by 15%

Wednesday 27 June 2018

Jersey Hospitality Association says it has increased its membership by 15% this year and now counts 150 members.

The association, which celebrated its 60th anniversary last year, says the growth is partly down to increased optimism in the sector.

This follows encouraging statistics from Visit Jersey and Ports of Jersey which seem to show tourism and hospitality is growing after a well-publicised period of decline. According to figures published recently by Visit Jersey, 727,000 visited the Island in 2017, who collectively spent £250m.  Earlier this month, Ports of Jersey reported that 2.3 million passengers travelled through the Airport and Harbour last year, with the Airport having its busiest year since 2000, with 1.6 million people – the majority visiting the Island – passing through it.

JHA President Fiona Kerley said: “Bringing the Ports of Jersey, Visit Jersey and JHA figures together, there is a definite upward trend and that is hugely encouraging. From our perspective, it is giving us new energy to provide training, set standards of terms and conditions and ensure that hospitality is a rewarding career for Islanders.

“Of course, we are also fully aware of the threats to our recovery, including ill-considered laws and regulation, and potentially damaging labour restrictions while we still face uncertainty over Brexit. Underlining this all, of course, is the fact that we all enjoy the benefits of our industry, from taking our children to an attraction to enjoying a drink and meal in a bar or restaurant.”