Why hotel boss who has lost 3,500 bookings is predicting Yorkshire tourism boom

A hotel owner who has lost almost £500,000 in cancelled bookings as a result of the coronavirus pandemic says he is confident Yorkshire tourism will enjoy a “boom” once lockdown measures are lifted.

Businessman Malcolm Weaving has placed the majority of the 80 staff at The Rendezvous Hotel in Skipton on furlough after around 3,500 bookings were cancelled as a result of the crisis, resulting in £447,000 in lost revenue.

He said he is taking out a £350,000 bank loan to cover costs in the expectation the hotel will not be able to reopen for six months.

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The hotel has also had to delay the launch of its new venture, a canal dining boat called Graceful Swan capable of serving over 50 customers at a time.

Malcolm Weaving sees a bright future for Yorkshire tourism despite the current problems caused by coronavirus. Picture: Bruce Rollinson.Malcolm Weaving sees a bright future for Yorkshire tourism despite the current problems caused by coronavirus. Picture: Bruce Rollinson.
Malcolm Weaving sees a bright future for Yorkshire tourism despite the current problems caused by coronavirus. Picture: Bruce Rollinson.

Mr Weaving said: “It's been the biggest commercial challenge we've ever faced. Nonetheless my true Yorkshire spirit is adamant we must keep the momentum going and prepare ourselves for when this war against the virus has been won.

"Our motto is ‘never bend down without picking something up’. We want to come out of this lockdown with new ideas.

"When things reopen it will be boom time because people are not going to want to go abroad or on cruise ships - they will go on staycations because everybody will want a holiday after this.

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"I think things will come back with a vengeance. We will be coming out of this like a dog coming out of Trap One.”

Mr Weaving said he has lost around 3,500 bookings as a result of the crisis. Picture: Bruce Rollinson.Mr Weaving said he has lost around 3,500 bookings as a result of the crisis. Picture: Bruce Rollinson.
Mr Weaving said he has lost around 3,500 bookings as a result of the crisis. Picture: Bruce Rollinson.

It comes after holiday rental marketplace company Snaptrip said the Yorkshire Dales has been the third-most searched-for destination for Brits in lockdown, behind the Scottish Highlands and Snowdonia.

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