Eateries cautiously optimistic for 2011

The hospitality industry has been hit hard by the recession. But many remain optimistic that the 2011 season will be better.

Cathy Howarth, manager of the White  Horse in St. George’s, is dependent on the ferry schedule: “We close for January, February and most of March because there are not enough to keep people in St. George’s.

“It is unfortunate. If there was more of a draw to the town we could stay open through the winter. We opened on March 19 this year and so far we have been pretty successful.

“We had a good year last year too — but that was more during the lunch times than the evenings because the ferries don’t run and we don’t have a cruise ship. The ferry schedule is a governing factor and we don’t know what it is going to look like yet. So during the lunch hours we are good then we become ‘anaemic’. We would be much happier if we had a good night time trade as well.

“The industry is definitely slower now than before but I’m optimistic about the summer.”

Rely on locals

Sali Alahakoo, manager of Henry VIII restaurant on the south shore, said: “We get a lot of tourists in from the Fairmont and the Reefs in the summer.

 “But in the off season we are much more reliant on the locals to keep us going. I don’t see a lot of difference between this year and last year. It is quiet and unpredictable. Everyone says this is going to be a good season and we hope this is the case.”

Jay Correia, boss of the Swizzle Inn, said some restaurants had really struggled in the last year due to the tourism slump.

He added: “In our case, we have seen a steady decline in the number of tourists coming through our doors.

“We seem to be the exception in some way because we have maintained a fairly steady flow of custom over the last year and a half.

“A large percentage of the people who come in are tourists. The industry is not what it used to be. It would be foolhardy to say that we can attract what we did in the ’80s.

“People coming through the doors are a lot choosier about what they spend their money on.

“We have had some pretty large bookings for the summer. And I believe Grotto Bay has some strong bookings too, which bodes well for us.

“A lot of people have high hopes for 2011.”

Mr. Correia added: “I know an awful lot of restaurants that have really struggled – a lot of them are on the precipice of failing.

“In general it has been a very difficult year. The ones doing well are in the minority.”

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• Eateries cautiously optimistic for 2011
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