Coronavirus support: industry update #3

The information in this update builds on previous newsletters that have all been uploaded to the Marketing Manchester website.

Tourism and Hospitality Support Hub

We have set up the Tourism and Hospitality Support Hub to signpost and connect the sector to advice, support and guidance across a variety of areas. As part of this we have collated a series of FAQs that we are continuously adding to.

If you have any specific questions or would like to talk to someone, please contact us on: supporthub@marketingmanchester.com

Marketing Manchester is working closely with GMCA and Manchester City Council to assist with their needs to identify potential additional accommodation needs for key workers and vulnerable people.  If hotels or serviced apartment operators want to offer support, can you please contact Stephanie Newton or Laura Mason at Marketing Manchester in the first instance and they will make the relevant introductions to the teams.

Latest Government updates

Following last week’s announcements on employee protection and business support – and the subsequent decision to adopt measures to tackle spread of the virus with the closure of all non-essential businesses – the Government has set up a dedicated Business Support website.

On this website you will find the most up to date information about some of the most important questions facing your business including the Coronavirus Job Retention Scheme, Coronavirus Business Interruption Loan Scheme, Statutory Sick Pay Rebates and much more.

VisitBritain has now also set up a Business Advice Hub which you may find useful for signposting to specific advice relating to the tourism and hospitality sector.

Local business support and webinars

At Greater Manchester level, we would like to remind you that our colleagues in The Growth Company are also providing online business support and can help signpost you to local resources and initiatives.

Earlier this week we hosted a  webinar dedicated to the Tourism and Hospitality Sector. The webinar is available to watch again here.

Additional webinars on topics such as Duty of Care to Employees and Cash Flow and Supply Chain Challenges can be accessed to watch again here.

UKH invites accommodation members to a webinar which will be hosted this Friday (27th March) at 3.00pm. Kate Nicholls will present an overview of the developments thus far, the measures in place, and what our next steps will be, before answering questions that participants can put to her either in advance of the webinar (email to events@ukhospitality.org.uk) or during the webinar. Please register here

Virtual and educational digital content call out

Whilst our main focus has been, and remains, to provide ongoing business support to help our members through this period, we have also been working on a marketing campaign to maintain the profile of Greater Manchester strong at the forefront of people’s minds.

We’ve changed the homepage of the Visit Manchester website to focus on content that has the capacity to inspire from the sofa; providing a vibrant insight into our culture and way of life, without asking people to leave their houses. A supporting social media campaign will amplify this message.

To support this we need more virtual and educational digital content and have sent an appeal out to our members asking for both existing content and ideas for new content that we can co-create.

On a related note, you may also want to get involved in VisitBritain’s ‘Showing love for Great Britain’ campaign. Find out more on the VisitBritain website.

Information for visitors

Our latest information and advice for visitors’ section on the Visit Manchester website has been updated to reflect ongoing changes to the current situation. Please direct any visitor enquiries here.

The main changes reflect the Government’s new ‘stay at home and away from others’ advice brought in on Monday 23 March. For full details please see the UK Government website.

Useful links

Business support and advice

Health and well being

Surveys, workshops and webinars

Other

Please keep in touch and stay safe.

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