Best Western boss blasts bed tax
The head of Best Western UK has called for a renewed lobbying effort by member hoteliers against the potential bed tax in England and Scottish tourism tax.
CEO David Clarke made his plea to more than 400 hotel owners and general managers at the group’s annual members’ conference in Edinburgh.
Best Western hotels have actively lobbied against the bed tax by writing to local MPs, contacting their local papers and signing petitions.
But Clarke pushed hotels further in his conference address, saying: “Best Western hotels must be in vanguard of resistance as we represent individual hotels trading in their communities.
“Such hotels are the very essence of the UK hospitality industry and all such hotels look to us as the largest group of independent hotels to lead the resistance to the tax.”
Eighteen hotels joined the consortium in 2006, including three from QMH, ending the year with 15,851 bedrooms, making it Best Western one of the largest hotel brands in the UK.
by Phil Davies
Phil Davies
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