York hotel offers discounted room rates during 'unprecedented' coronavirus crisis

The Parisi Hotel has taken the decision in the hope that guests will instead spend money in nearby bars, restaurants and shops during their stay.

York's tourism industry expects to be badly affected by cancellations and lost takings due to the coronavirus outbreak. Overseas visitor numbers have plummeted since widespread border closures and flight groundings were implemented.

In a statement on Instagram, The Parisi's management said:- "We just wanted to thank our guests for such lovely feedback about how much they enjoyed their stays with us over the weekend. At a time like this, when people aren’t sure what to do for the best, it is great to hear that we are continuing to provide some welcome rest and relaxation. We completely understand that some of our guests can’t travel at the moment and appreciate their pledges to stay with us when this all blows over.

"This is an unprecedented and unsettling time for us all, but particularly hard for the hospitality and travel industry. No one knows how this is all going to play out and we are keeping up to date with current advice.

"The health and wellbeing of our guests and team members is of paramount importance to us. We know the advice is changing by the hour, but for now travel isn’t restricted and in case it is any reassurance, we have a long record of maintaining the highest standards of hygiene (rated throughout our time here over the last six years with five stars and being praised for being fully compliant). You can rest assured that our staff take hand washing and hygienic practices very seriously right across the business. Although we are a small hotel, we have generous public areas - the tables in our lovely breakfast room are spaced two metres apart so you won’t feel on top of other guests.

"We are offering lower rates to people who book direct over the phone in order to try to encourage bookings from those who can continue to travel without endangering themselves or others, in the hope that they might thereafter have a bit of extra cash available to spend in our fellow independent restaurants, bars/pubs, cafes and shops."

In the Yorkshire Dales, the owner of the Blue Lion public house in Wensleydale said he feared the crisis could be more devastating than the foot and mouth disease outbreak of 2001 for rural businesses.

Paul Klein admitted he is 'terrified' the pub will have to close down and has already lost Mother's Day and Bank Holiday bookings.

Leeds independent restaurant Vice and Virtue has only 12 Mother's Day bookings, compared to an average of betweeen 30-60 in previous years.

Sales at North Brewing Co's bars and brewery in Leeds are down by 25 per cent.