Holiday Inn owner IHG urges Burnham to drop tourist tax
The boss of Premier Inn-owner IHG has urged Andy Burnham to drop plans for a tourist tax, which they said will deter tourists and investors from the UK. Neetu Mistry, the hotel group’s UK and Ireland managing director, told City AM that she has directly warned the government against the policy, which will allow local [...]
Neetu Mistry, UK and Ireland managing director of Premier Inn-owner IHG, has urged Mayor Andy Burnham to abandon plans for a tourist tax, claiming it will deter tourists and investors from the UK. In an interview with City AM, Mistry directly warned the government against the policy. She stated that IHG has been clear in its opposition to the tax, asserting that it acts as an additional barrier to tourism.
The government's proposed overnight visitor levy could add over £100 to the cost of a two-week family holiday and potentially result in the loss of 33,000 jobs in the tourism sector. IHG operates 384 hotels in the UK, including Holiday Inn, Six Senses, and Vignette Collections. Mistry emphasized that IHG's franchisees and investors have expressed concerns that the tourist tax, combined with rising business rates, is making the UK's hospitality market less attractive for investments.
IHG's UK and Ireland managing director criticized the government for not setting clear plans for the levy and stressed the need for ongoing engagement to minimize any potential impacts.
Written by urgent.news from City AM's reporting — not their text. Machine-written — may contain errors; check the original before relying on it.
