Victoria’s peak tourism accommodation body has welcomed the Victorian Government’s plan for Melbourne hotels and restaurants to reopen next week, but has warned of further job losses if indoor patron limits and restrictions on people movement remain in place.

A member survey found patron limits of 10 people per indoor space, with a maximum of 20 people indoors per venue, simply aren’t viable for many hoteliers.

Tourism Accommodation Australia (Victoria) General Manager, Dougal Hollis said 35 per cent of hotels in Melbourne’s CBD and surrounds are currently closed and will likely remain so unless trading restrictions are further eased.

“Our members appreciate these decisions need to be safe and sustainable but, given our consistently low daily case numbers, we think the one person per four square metre density quotient and social distancing metrics should be applied in indoor settings, later being eased to one person per two square metres.”

“Hotels have reported revenue declines of between 87 and 100 per cent during shut down and some CBD hotels have shed up to one third of their workforce. An estimated 6,000 jobs have been lost or are in jeopardy as a result.

“Hoteliers are very keen to recommence trading, generate cash flow and re-engage their teams, however they simply can’t do so if the numbers don’t stack up.”

Mr Hollis said CBD hoteliers were very concerned about sufficient foot traffic returning to these areas, without a clear timeline for workers to return to city offices.

AHA (Vic) and TAA (Vic) are currently engaging with relevant parliamentarians and government departments to help inform key decisions that will be made in coming days and weeks.

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