Industry Update: 24 September

Latest guidance on local restrictions

As of today (Thursday 24 September), there are still four different levels of restrictions in place across Greater Manchester; however, we anticipate that this situation could change at any point to align with restrictions in place in other areas of North West England.

We therefore ask that you familiarise yourself with the information on our Know Before You Go page which is updated regularly so that both businesses and consumers have a one-stop resource for planning visits in and around Greater Manchester.

Is your business Test & Trace compliant?

From last Friday 18 September tourism, hospitality and leisure businesses are now legally required to take contact details of a member from each customer party, retain these details for 21 days, and provide them to NHS Test & Trace without delay when required. This was previously optional for businesses but is now law.

Additionally, businesses need to keep a daily record of staff working on the premises. The UK Government will support local authorities to make further and faster use of their powers to close venues that are breaking the rules and pose a risk to public health. Fines will be levied against hospitality venues that fail to ensure their premises remain COVID Secure.

This requirement will apply to businesses and other public settings where people meet socially including hospitality, close contact and leisure venues – full details can be found here.

Separately UK Government has urged businesses to prepare for the NHS COVID-19 App by ensuring they have NHS QR code posters visible on entry so customers who have downloaded the new NHS COVID-19 app can use their smartphones to easily check-in. The NHS COVID-19 app has launched today across England and Wales and guidance for creating a QR Code and associated poster for operators can be found here.

Marketing Manchester supports GM LEP in communicating strength of region’s economic proposition

We are working on behalf of Greater Manchester Local Enterprise Partnership to deliver strategic communications support highlighting the strength of the region’s economic proposition.

Working alongside communications colleagues at Greater Manchester Combined Authority, Marketing Manchester is taking the lead on creating, delivering and sharing content emphasising Greater Manchester’s ability to play a leading role in the UK’s economic recovery.

We will support GMCA colleagues in raising the profile of GM LEP’s work through the media, online and across social media.

The work will demonstrate Greater Manchester rich history of innovation to address inequalities and tackle global challenges, while reinforcing capabilities within the Local Industrial Strategy frontier sectors including Clean Growth; Advanced Manufacturing and Materials; Health innovation; and Digital.

Content will be shared via www.gmlep.com/insights and GM LEP and partner social channels.

If you’d like to help us to articulate or share evidence of the strength of Greater Manchester’s economic proposition, please email Simon.Donohue@marketingmanchester.com.

Utilising TXGB to maximise Rugby League World Cup 2021 opportunity

For the first time in Rugby League World Cup history, the Men’s, Women’s and Wheelchair tournaments will take place together in 2021. All 61 matches will be played at venues across England, and Old Trafford is hosting a double header of the Men and Women’s final on Saturday 27 November 2021, with other matches played across several venues in Greater Manchester throughout the tournament.

RLWC2021 have partnered with TXGB and are working closely with Marketing Manchester to invite tourism businesses to join their official fan travel platform where you can offer accommodation or activity products to be sold alongside match day tickets. TXGB has enabled this innovation to give more businesses the opportunity to be part of the RLWC21 success for Manchester and other host cities.

If you have already signed up to TXGB then simply opt in to the new ‘RLWC2021 channel’ as well as ‘visitmanchester’ to be featured. Alternatively, if you are not already signed up to TXGB you can do so for free via txgb.co.uk.

If you have any questions, please contact the team at support@txgb.co.uk

Contrasting urban and rural experience presents mixed picture in the latest NatWest Tourism Business Barometer 

Tourism businesses across the north of England are experiencing distinctly mixed recovery trajectories as their economies reopen according to the latest round of data presented by the NatWest Tourism Business Barometer.

The fortnightly barometer, which launched in July, has regularly surveyed over 100 tourism businesses across nine regions of the North to measure the UK post-lockdown business environment. Eight weeks into the 16-week study, data suggests that whilst green shoots have emerged across several of the barometer metrics compared to the benchmark data set in week one, recovery is slower in urban destinations.

To read the full story, please click here.

In case you missed it: Manchester business leaders say loss of VAT refunds for tourists damaging to Greater Manchester economy

Retail, leisure and tourism leaders from across Greater Manchester have expressed concern following the surprise decision from the Treasury to remove the option for international visitors to reclaim VAT on their spending.

The decision means the UK will now be the only country in Europe not to offer tax-free shopping to international visitors, which would put at risk £60 million of tax-free sales to Greater Manchester’s visitor economy, according to tax free shopping specialists, Global Blue and Planet.

To read the full story, please click here.

Consultation countdown underway for Greater Manchester clean air plans and taxi standards

Greater Manchester is gearing up for two major public consultations in October to get a wide range of views on key elements of the biggest Clean Air Zone (CAZ) in the UK outside London, and minimum standards for taxis and private hire vehicles licensed in the city-region.

People from across the region and beyond will be encouraged to have their say on Greater Manchester’s plans through the consultations, which will run from Thursday 8 October to Thursday 3 December 2020.

To read the full press release, please click here.

Partner and industry news

Tourism and Hospitality Support Hub

Throughout the Covid-19 crisis the Tourism and Hospitality Support Hub has been available to ensure that tourism and hospitality businesses are given the most up to date information including reopening standards and guidance. We have streamlined the Hub to give the most useful information; however, we will continue to deliver the service throughout the reopening of the visitor economy and anyone who needs specific and detailed support should contact supporthub@marketingmanchester.com for bespoke help and advice.

Latest Links

  • Guidance on working safely during COVID-19 in England has been updated for:
  • Guidance for businesses selling food in local lockdown-affected areas of Greater Manchester has been updated in line with the pan-England guidance for working safely during COVID-19 noted above.
  • From today, people in England will be required by law to self-isolate if they test positive for COVID-19 or are contacted by NHS Test and Trace.
  • Businesses can now check if they are eligible for the Local Restrictions Support Grant (LRSG)
  • Updated information for businesses who deferred VAT
  • UKHospitality has been in communication with Government to gain more clarity on the restrictions and is continually updating the UKH FAQs and grid on the restrictions across the nation as we get answers through. Both our FAQs and grid can be found here. Questions can be emailed to our dedicated inbox cv19@ukhospitality.org.uk
  • The Test & Trace App launched yesterday, and it is now a legal requirement to display the official NHS QR code and encourage the lead booker in a group to check in using the app – this will fulfil the legal obligation on test and trace.
  • Further app resources can be found here and information about creating a QR Code is available here. General consumer-facing assets are available to download here. ​​​​​​
  • The Coronavirus outbreak FAQs: what you can and can’t do
  • Meeting with others safely guidance reflecting the new guidance in the areas of social distancing, seeing friends and family and rules in other venues and activities. The guidance outlines the exceptions where more than 6 people can meet including that where a group includes someone covered by such an exception (for example, someone who is working), they are not counted as part of the gatherings limit.
  • The safer transport guidance for operators reflecting new legislation on social contact and the requirement for passengers to wear face coverings in taxis and private hire vehicles.
  • Guidance on when to wear a face covering and the exemptions. DCMS has also shared some clarifications on face coverings – a visor does not count as a face covering – “a face covering is something which safely covers the nose and mouth” and “must securely fit round the side of the face”. Also in shops employees need to wear masks even if they are behind a screen.
  • Meetings of up to 30 people indoors are allowed in permitted venues if social distancing can be maintained and the venue can demonstrate it has followed the COVID-19 guidance. If permitted venues have multiple, separate meeting facilities, these can be hired out simultaneously for separate meetings/events if social distancing can be maintained, groups can be kept separate, and the venue can demonstrate it has followed the COVID-19 guidance.
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