It is of "great concern" that the furlough scheme is hiding the true impact of Covid-19 on the meetings and events sector, according to the HBAA.
It comes after a new report identified an average reduction of 39 per cent in full-time positions at agencies in the sector since February 2020.
This figure has increased by nine per cent since June 2020 when a previous HBAA study revealed that 30 per cent of employees working in the sector at the time were at risk of redundancy.
Julie Shorrock, HBAA membership director and managing director of Hotel and Travel Solutions, said: "This research shows the grave effect the pandemic has had on the meeting, events and accommodation industry.
Julie Shorrock"Bearing in mind this survey has been conducted during the furlough period, it is likely there will be more redundancies when the scheme ends unless there is a dramatic upturn in business. It is of great concern that the furlough scheme is hiding the true impact of Covid-19 on our industry."
The report, which is set to be released this month, also revealed that 74 per cent of the 100 members surveyed said their business needed an extension to the government’s furlough scheme in order to continue. A further 44 per cent said they will rely on the extended business rates relief policy to survive into 2022.
However, the HBAA anticipates venues, more than agency members, will benefit from business rates relief – leaving agencies in the 'precarious position' of relying on grants from local authorities.
"HBAA has continued to strive to support members throughout the pandemic with a voice into government via the BVEP and directly, and by providing timely advice and education on pertinent issues. It has also been important for us to bring together our community to share ideas, experiences and best practices around our four pillars of resilience, innovation, ethics and quality," Shorrock added.
"Our immediate priorities going forward are to continue campaigning for recognition and sector-specific support, to provide our members with the toolkits they need to revive their businesses, and to build customer confidence to spend again."
A desire to travel led Holly Patrick to the business meetings and events world and she’s never looked back. Holly takes a particular interest in event sustainability and creating a diverse and inclusive industry. When she’s not working, she can be found rolling skating along Brighton seafront listening to an eclectic playlist, featuring the likes of Patti Smith, Sean Paul, and Arooj Aftab.
