A Hospitality WhatsApp Group was set up during Covid times to help people navigate the rules that government put in place, alert businesses to grant funding opportunities and importantly, provide some moral support during difficult times.

That WhatsApp group still exists today and has opened its membership to other local businesses and people use it to network asking questions, sharing issues, etc. so BID knows that any medium for networking is hugely valued.

It’s been said to BID that hospitality businesses still have issues that are mostly unique to them so still need space to focus discussion on their business.  The Hospitality Business Gathering hour offers a space for a face-to-face meet-up to discuss issues with other businesses that ‘get it’.  We are grateful to Andrei Lussmann for allowing us to use his space to have our first gathering opportunity and we’ve used individual’s feedback as well as from the WhatsApp group discussions to put together the agenda below. We hope that the membership of this group leads future agendas if the gatherings continue.

Date: 18th July 4-5pm

Location @ Lussmanns St Albans – Heritage Close

Agenda

4.00 – Mix and mingle

4.15 – Guest speaker Neil Kieran form SADC – to speak about how hospitality venues can help raise awareness about the national White Ribbon campaign which will take place in November ‘23. The campaign tackles male violence against women.

4.25 – Open discussion about the idea seen on WhatsApp re food delivery services – is there a truly practical and deliverable alternative to national home delivery services?

4.45 – What other issues do people want to flag up, seek help on?

4.55 – agree frequency of gatherings – check timing is ok, etc.

5.00 – off to the pub if people want to continue their networking

All our levy payers from the hospitality industry are welcome, be great to know if you are coming so just fill our the form or email us to let us know.

See you there!