Fewer entertainment choices and higher costs

20 December 2005

Fewer entertainment choices and higher costs

Be tolerant of public holiday surcharges this Christmas is the plea from Hospitality Association Chief Executive Bruce Robertson as the holiday period arrives.

The Holidays Act means that this year hospitality businesses are liable for penal rates on Christmas Day, Boxing Day, 27 December, New Year's Day, and 2nd & 3rd January.

"Most consumers will face surcharges on all of these days with the hospitality industry having little option other than passing on the additional costs or remaining closed," said Mr Robertson.

He expects that some businesses will have worked out the numbers and decided to stay shut. The experience that operators had last Christmas and over Easter has led to an increasing number of businesses taking that decision.

"Regrettably, the result of the government's changes to the Holidays Act means that consumers will have less choice of where to eat and drink and when they do find bars, taverns and restaurants open they can expect to pay more," Mr Robertson said.

ENDS

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