Staying close may be difficult to imagine in a post-Covid world but it could hold the key to the recovery of the NSW hotel industry, according to Tourism Accommodation Australia.

The TAA NSW Board came together in person for the first time since February last Thursday, following months of dealing with the COVID- 19 crisis remotely. 

The meeting preceded the federal government's announcement of further changes to the Jobkeeper subsidy on Friday, which included an extra $15 billion in funding for the program.

At a glance:

• The Tourism Accommodation Australia NSW Board met face-to-face for the first time in months last Thursday, following months of dealing with the COVID- 19 crisis remotely.
• Jobkeeper 2.0 and the commercial leases code of conduct – due to expire in NSW in October- dominated the agenda for last week's meeting, with TAA pushing to have the state government extend the code of conduct for the life of Jobkeeper, which is now March 2021.
• New Destination NSW CEO Steve Cox was among those in attendance.

TAA NSW CEO Michael Johnson told WILLIAMS MEDIA further "collaboration and communication" with state and federal governments remained an integral part of the industry body's strategy moving forward.

"It's about making sure the government has all the right information, so they can continue to be agile," he said.

"We are continuing to provide treasury with statistics on all the CBDs around the country, as well as forecasting data. 

"It's important that we stay close to them." 

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TAA NSW CEO Michael Johnson. Source: TAA  

Mr Johnson said Jobkeeper 2.0 and the commercial leases code of conduct – due to expire in NSW in October- dominated the agenda for last week's meeting, with TAA pushing to have the state government extend the code of conduct for the life of Jobkeeper, which is now March 2021.

"Recent changes to Jobkeeper 2.0 have been well received, however, TAA NSW will be pushing for some additional measures at both the Federal and NSW levels to support the many hotels which have been decimated during the crisis,” he said. 

“Border closures around the country continue to ensure hotels are operating in sub- 20 per cent occupancies across the Sydney CBD and it is just not sustainable. 

“The code of conduct agreement is keeping many hotel businesses in NSW afloat but it is due to expire in NSW in October.” 

Attendees of the meeting included Destination NSW’s new CEO Steve Cox, whom Mr Johnson said was "confident of the Premier state pulling out of this crisis with a solid strategic plan to map out the road to recovery".

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