Royal Wedding - Implications for Hotels

The Royal Wedding is no doubt going to be a great event, and certainly a boost for the UK tourist industry which will be of benefit to hoteliers.  In fact, many hotels are really taking the event to heart with special events, packages and offers.  But there are two key operational issues to consider :

Change to Licensing Hours

On 5th April 2011 the Government brought into force an Order relaxing licensing hours, to help us all celebrate the Royal Wedding of Prince William and Kate Middleton.

The Order allows licensed premises in England and Wales to stay open between 11pm on Friday 29 April and 1am on Saturday 30 April, and between 11pm on Saturday 30 April and 1am on Sunday 1 May for :

• the sale or supply of alcohol for consumption on the premises
• regulated entertainment
• late night refreshment where alcohol is also sold or supplied for consumption on the premises

Section 172 of the Licensing Act 2003 allows the Secretary of State to make an order like this, relaxing opening hours for licensed premises to mark occasions of "exceptional international, national or local significance", which overrides existing opening hours in licensed premises.  Existing licence conditions (eg to provide door staff) will apply during these extended hours.

Click Here to see the Home Office official notification.

Staff Holidays on the Extra Bank Holiday

One key question being asked by hoteliers is "are employees entitled to any additional paid holiday due to the extra Bank Holiday on Friday 29 April ?"  The answer is that it depends on your employment contracts.

The annual minimum leave of 28 days (including any Bank Holidays taken as leave) for a 5 day a week worker is unchanged, so the answer in this case is “no extra holiday”.

But, if the contract of employment states bank holidays are additional (eg “20 days plus bank holidays”) or provides  “a day off in lieu for working on a bank holiday” then that does give an extra day or day in lieu.  Also, if your employment contracts specify for example “time and a half” for bank holiday working, this would apply on 29 April.