London’s hospitality and tourism businesses could lose up to £110m because of this week’s tube strike, according to industry body UKHospitality.
Kate Nicholls, chair of UKHospitality, said consumer cancellations and travel disruption for staff would add further pressure to a sector already under strain.
It comes as most London Underground lines are closed, forcing thousands of commuters to find alternative routes. Members of the Rail, Maritime and Transport (RMT) union have begun strike action in a dispute over pay and conditions.
Transport for London (TfL) said disruption is likely to continue until Friday, with few or no services expected between Monday and Thursday and further delays possible on Friday morning.
Nicholls said: “Consumers will be forced to change or cancel their plans, impacting sales, and many hospitality teams will have difficulty making it to work.
“This level of impact comes at a time when businesses can least afford it, having just been hit with £3.4bn in additional annual cost. It’s crucial that all parties involved get round the table to negotiate a solution that avoids damaging strikes.”
UKHospitality represents more than 130,000 venues across pubs, bars, restaurants, hotels, indoor leisure and contract catering. The trade body says the industry contributes £93bn a year to the economy, generates £54bn in tax revenue and employs more than 3.5 million people, making it the UK’s third-largest employer.
