Hospitality businesses get £24m grant aid as hotels added to list
Almost £24million has so far been been issued to 1,936 hospitality businesses across Northern Ireland under a Covid-19 support scheme.
Restaurants, cafes, bars and nightclubs have all so far benefitted from one-off Omicron Hospitality Payments of between £10,000, £15,000 or £20,000 – depending on the businesses’ rateable value.
The £40 million grant scheme was officially launched earlier this month with over 3,200 businesses eligible and on Thursday hotels were added to the list of eligible venues.
From Monday Tourism NI-certified hotels will be contacted by Land & Property Services if they previously received a payment under the Localised Restrictions Support Scheme (LRSS). An email will include a link to an online form, where businesses will be asked to confirm some information and complete a declaration to enable payments.
Finance minister Conor Murphy hailed the move, saying: “Hotels are a vital part of our hospitality industry and have undoubtedly been impacted by Omicron, facing cancellations over the festive period.
“I was determined to ensure hotels were not left without support and in the absence of a bid for funding for a scheme to help this sector being brought forward, my department has again taken the lead and obtained Executive approval to include hotels in the Omicron Hospitality Payment scheme. My department will move at pace to get financial assistance out to hotels.”
NI Hotel Federation chief executive Janice Gault added: “Hoteliers are pleased their plight has been recognised in a similar way to other components of the hospitality industry and welcome the inclusion of the sector in the scheme.
“To date, January has been quiet but with the relaxing of restrictions, the removal of the Covid passport and hospitals coping with infection levels, the climate is becoming more favourable.”
Chief executive of Hospitality Ulster Colin Neill said it was a “welcome step” and a “boost” that would “go some way” to supporting hospitality businesses.
