Hospitality leaders’ optimism has risen for the fourth quarter in a row, but they remain concerned about inflation and the challenge of business rates.
Those are the headlines from the October edition of the Business Confidence Survey from CGA by NIQ and Fourth. It shows 49% of leaders now feel confident about the hospitality market over the next 12 months — up by four percentage points from August’s figure of 45%. The proportion of leaders who feel optimistic about prospects for their business in the next year is unchanged at 62%.
The survey indicates important improvements at businesses that have been left fragile by Covid and the costs crisis. Only 5% of leaders say their business is currently at risk of failure — down from 11% last quarter. The number feeling pessimistic about the market has dropped from 31% in August to 18% in October.
Leaders are upbeat about prospects for the crucial final quarter of the year. Nearly three in ten (58%) are optimistic about their business’s Christmas trading, with just 8% feeling pessimistic. Well over a quarter (29%) of leaders say Christmas bookings are ahead of this time last year — twice the number (15%) who say reservations are down.
However, the survey also reveals widespread concern about rising costs. Business rates are the most pressing issue, with 57% very concerned about them, ahead of possible changes in the chancellor’s Autumn Statement.
There is widespread support for rate reform and relief, with 67% of leaders saying their business would be less stable if relief was removed. Significant numbers say a withdrawal of relief would force them to cut investment (71%), reduce staffing levels (61%), raise menu prices (61%), or close sites (45%).
Well over a third (38%) of leaders are also very concerned by increases in the National Living Wage. Employers have increased pay levels by an average of 10% in the last 12 months — though better rates have helped to bring down staff vacancies, which now stand at 8%, down from 11% in the previous survey.
Among other cost pressures, roughly a third of leaders say they are very concerned about energy prices (35%) and food and drink inflation (30%).
“These figures are another vote of confidence in hospitality and a sign that trading conditions may start to ease as inflation comes down,” said Karl Chessell, CGA by NIQ’s director, hospitality operators and food, EMEA.
“It’s encouraging to see good levels of optimism about Christmas sales, which can make or break the year for many restaurant, pub, and bar groups. Despite pressure on their spending, consumers clearly remain eager to enjoy the special experiences that hospitality provides.
“However, the sector is not out of the woods yet. Costs in food, drink, labour, and energy remain exceptionally high, and as the Autumn Statement approaches there is real concern about the damage that a rise in business rates would cause.
“Hospitality is a vibrant industry that makes an enormous contribution to the UK economy, but any changes to rates relief and caps would jeopardise its investment and job creation and further fuel inflation.”
Sebastien Sepierre, managing director EMEA at Fourth, said: “As we approach the festive season and the bump in trade it will bring for operators, it’s reassuring to see that business confidence is in a stronger position compared to the previous quarter.
“This is a good indication of the resilience of the industry, which has faced its fair share of turbulence in recent times, with inflationary pressures, energy price rises, and high vacancy rates causing significant strain on venues of all sizes across the UK.
“In the face of these challenges, we have seen that technology can provide essential support in helping businesses to forecast sales, manage demand and produce scheduling processes that reflect these insights, which ultimately leads to more streamlined and cost-efficient operations. As we look ahead, businesses should continue to make the most of these tools to further strengthen their ability to hit the ground running in the new year and beyond.”
