A landmark debate in September at the House of Commons is set to change the face of venue safety laws in the UK.

The Terrorism Protection of Premises Bill or ‘Martyn’s Law’ was discussed by MPs in September; an anti-terrorism bill in memory of 29-year-old Martyn Hett, who was killed alongside 21 others in the 2017 Manchester Arena bombing. The law is currently under review by the Public Bill Committee and is set to come into action over the coming weeks.

The main aim of the Bill is to protect the public from the impact of terrorist attacks and to prevent physical harm. It comes after the terror threat for venues in the UK has been described as ‘substantial’ by officials, who have revealed that 43 terrorist plots have been foiled since 2017.

Mainly aimed at concert halls, stadiums and other crowded venues, Martyn’s Law outlines new specific safety measures for most public venues based on different capacities, meaning hotels and other hospitality venues will be affected when the law becomes official.

The Law calls for mandatory safety training and ‘practicable public protection procedures’ in venues with a capacity of 200 – 799 (known as standard tier and raised from 100 in September to create a more appropriate scope of duty).

Whereas in larger venues with a capacity of over 800 (enhanced tier), more rigorous measures are required such as additional security staff and minimum CCTV requirements.

Martyn’s Law will have large implications on the hospitality industry, however, many hospitality providers are clearly seeing the benefit to public safety, with 100 venues publicly backing the bill, including McDonalds.

Since we last talked about Martyn’s Law in February of this year, there have been some adjustments to the proposed requirements. Here we discuss the biggest changes for hotels and other hospitality providers to help you prepare for the new legislation.

Standard Tier Requirements

There is a focus on practical and effective safety training to prepare for a terrorist event, including practice runs by team members.

Since the bill was first proposed, the requirements for training have become more prescriptive and involve safety procedures for the following:

• Evacuation
• Invacuation
• Lockdown
• Communication with staff and customers.

This more active approach aims to raise and maintain awareness of anti-terror measures amongst hotel staff so they can be implemented effectively in the event of a terror attack.

A ‘responsible person’ will implement these measures and ensure adequate training takes place and all safety measures should be clearly communicated with the regulator.

In summary, since the Government consultation on Martyn’s Law, there is now less emphasis on paperwork and a greater focus on ensuring that all your employees fully understand how to deliver the anti-terrorism measures to reduce physical harm.

The government hopes that these requirements will enable venues to tailor their measures to suit their operational needs.

Enhanced Tier Requirements

If your hotel or venue falls into the Enhanced Tier category, regulators will need to be informed of any events where 800 or more individuals are attending your event.

The same safety training and actionable public safety procedures apply here as for Standard Tier venues; however, paperwork requirements are more rigorous and all safety measures in place must be adequately documented as proof of compliance. This will also include safety assessments of the efficiency of your hotel’s safety measures.

As with standard tier requirements, there must be a ‘responsible person’ in charge of implementing these measures. However, if your hotel or venue falls under the 800 capacity tier, a ‘senior’ responsible person must be nominated for each event where there are 800 or more individuals attending.

As well as the hotel itself, the surrounding area must be monitored for suspicious activity by using additional staff and/or extra CCTV.

There will be an expected grace period of around 24 months to enable venues to put these plans into place before the Security Industry Authority (SIA) begins regulatory action to enforce the law.

The SIA will have the power to issue compliance notices, limit operations and give out hefty fines to venues of up to 5% of worldwide revenue (AEO) for those who don’t comply. This figure could be in the millions for multi-site hotel chains or venues.

With this in mind, and the bill currently making its way through Parliament, now is the time to get your anti-terrorism measures in place to ensure the safety of your customers and guarantee your venue is compliant.

Resources

• Association of Event Organisers
• Government guidance
• Government Consultation

To celebrate 10 years of GO Technology insight, Zonal and CGA take a look back at how tech has shaped the industry over the past decade.

Back in 2014, when David Cameron was Prime Minister, the biggest tech launches of the year were Amazon’s Alexa and Google’s ill-fated glasses. The Apple Watch hadn’t been launched, Apple Pay didn’t exist, and Kim Kardashian married Kanye West.

It was also the year that Zonal entered into a long term partnership with CGA by NIQ, via the launch of the first ever GO Technology report. In the 10 years since, the reports have tracked the adoption of tech solutions in hospitality by consumers and businesses alike.

A decade on, here are the top ways that innovation has reshaped our sector.

Booking and payments

Ten years ago, over half (58%) of consumers said they preferred to make table bookings by telephone. Fast forward nearly a decade, only a fifth (20%) of consumers cite this as their preferred booking method, with nearly half (45%) now wanting to book online. As for using AI tools to book – we didn’t know what that was back in 2014.

Consumer preferences when it comes to paying for food in bars or restaurants have also seen a significant shift. In 2014, GO Technology revealed that only 6% of consumers used digital payment methods for their orders. By 2024, this had increased to 43%, resulting from the rapid adoption of mobile devices for payment as a result of the pandemic.

Data sharing and loyalty

Advances in mobile technology over the last ten years have opened up the potential to tailor services and offers to guests and in turn help drive loyalty. In 2018, GO Technology found that only half (51%) of consumers would be willing to exchange personal information to receive tailored offers, increasing to 64% a mere two years later.

Consumers’ growing desire for value has also led to an increased engagement with brands and loyalty schemes. Back in 2021, less than a quarter (23%) were signed up to more than one loyalty programme, but by 2024 nearly half (47%) of consumers have joined several loyalty schemes, primarily to make the most of deals and promotions available.

The need for speed

Our first ever report also revealed that 17% of young consumers, aged 25 to 34, were frustrated by having to wait to settle the bill at the end of a meal. This has increased to a whopping 75% of young consumers in 2024.

Similarly, people have become increasingly demanding that their food is served in a timely fashion. In 2014 nearly half of consumers (47%) cited waiting a long time for food as their number one frustration when going out for a meal, while this year’s report revealed an increase to nine in ten (91%) consumers who now say long waits and hot food served cold are their top bugbears.

All of which goes to show that investing in tech that can help deliver on these fundamentals is key to business success.

Commenting on the findings, Tim Chapman, Chief Commercial Officer, Zonal, said: “Hospitality has evolved significantly over the past ten years and tech has played a fundamental role in this journey, enabling operators to deliver the fast, seamless and hassle-free experience that consumers have come to demand and in turn, drive growth.

“Looking ahead to the next ten years, there will undoubtedly be more change to come, but one thing we can be certain about is that technology will continue to play its part. However, this doesn’t mean that hospitality will become all about robots and automated processes. The best hospitality experiences remain those that offer the right balance of technology and traditional face-to-face service and that’s never going to change.”

Click here to download the latest report in the series, ‘Fixing people’s hospitality bugbears’.

We’re proud to announce our sponsorship of the Hospitality Junior Board, an initiative to encourage young people to choose hospitality as a career path.

Our SaaS hotel PMS was specifically designed and built for the hospitality industry and that is why we continue to invest in its development. As a result, we understand the need to invest in the future of the people who work in the sector.

By supporting this important initiative, we are encouraging future hospitality innovators to become aspiring leaders in the industry. Not only does it help with young people’s professional and personal development, but it also changes the perception of the industry as an ambitious career choice.

“We recognise both the unique challenges and the immense potential within the hospitality industry. Supporting this fantastic initiative goes beyond giving back – it’s about strategically investing in the future of our sector. By empowering young leaders and reshaping perceptions, we are paving the way for hospitality to continue thriving as a dynamic and rewarding career choice.”

Pete Saunders, Head of Relationships, Zonal Hotel Solutions

In recent years, the hospitality industry has needed to overcome many challenges, and employee retention is high on the list. With us sponsoring this transformational programme, we are joining forces with other industry supporters to alleviate the wider community perception that the hospitality industry lacks career progression or room for growth.

Creating a Junior Board of young leaders in hospitality who will undergo a mentorship and training programme as well as work on community projects, will help the industry to start recruiting and keep the best possible talent.

Through investing in the future workforce, we hope to encourage a new wave of talent in hospitality, not only as future leaders but to also shape the evolution of the industry.

Zonal has partnered with Workforce, a brand new, free-to-use membership platform, promoting the incredible career opportunities available in pubs and providing practical support and inspiration for everyone working in the sector.

It has never been more important to nurture and develop the home-grown talent that exists within the pub sector. From professional development, apprenticeships, and training information, to blogs and podcasts sharing the stories of those at the beginning of their careers through to industry leaders, Workforce will promote the welcoming and diverse nature of pubs and help attract and retain the home-grown talent needed to help keep pubs thriving in every community in the UK.

Steven Alton, BII CEO commented:

“Workforce will be instrumental in creating a free to use community for team members from across the sector, enabling their growth and development in our fantastic industry. 

“I am incredibly proud that we are able to launch this free-to-use platform, promoting the incredible career opportunities that exist for people from all walks of life in the pub sector, and supporting BII members as they recruit and nurture the next generation of amazing talent.” 

The BII are inviting anyone working in the pub sector to join Workforce by signing up at biiworkforce.org today to get access to career guidance, podcasts and blogs featuring fantastic stories from across the industry, wellbeing advice and support, and discounted pub experiences with Perks. Future developments for members will include webinars with award-winning mentors, free training opportunities, competitions and more.

Christmas bookings for 2024 are up by 54% compared to the number of reservations that had been made by this time last year.

Has the soggy summer weather convinced Brits to start planning Christmas early? Latest insight from Zonal reveals that bookings for Christmas 2024 are up by 54%, compared to this point in 2023.

Over half of the bookings (52%) that have already been made for this coming December are for Christmas Day itself, compared to 44% this time last year. Saturday 14th December 2024 is currently the most popular day for bookings in the festive period, followed by Saturday 7th December.

When it comes to group bookings (covers of 10 people or more), reservations are up 38% in comparison to this time in 2023 and group bookings currently account for 26% of the total bookings for this December. All of which points to a potential cracker of a Christmas for the hospitality industry this year.

Commenting on the findings, Tim Chapman, Chief Commercial Officer, Zonal, said: “Our insights show that Christmas 2024 is already looking positive for hospitality – with bookings up on this time last year. With group bookings looking to be particularly popular, there is even more reason for operators to celebrate, but to also get prepared. Operators will therefore benefit from having a booking system in place which is able to facilitate large party bookings, enquiries, and pre-order functionalities. This will reduce any admin headaches while giving operators full visibility and control at the busiest time of year.”

Zonal is thrilled to announce a strategic partnership with Net Zero Now, a leader in carbon accounting solutions. This integration aims to streamline carbon accounting, reduce wastage, and enhance operational efficiency for restaurants, pubs, and bars.

Empowering the hospitality industry in climate action

Net Zero Now has been at the forefront of helping hospitality businesses manage their carbon footprints, with over 3,000 sites currently using its platform to achieve sustainability goals. Developed in collaboration with Coca-Cola Euro Pacific Partners, the Net Zero Hospitality protocol, endorsed by The Sustainable Restaurant Association and Pernod-Ricard, uniquely provides comprehensive guidance for sustainability across the sector. The partnership with Zonal, which serves over 17,000 hospitality businesses, represents a transformative step in enhancing operational efficiency and environmental responsibility within the industry.

Key benefits of the integration:

• Boost Efficiency: Real-time stock management for accurate inventory tracking.
• Automate Procurement: Simplified ordering processes to reduce manual tasks.
• Reduce Wastage: Smart purchasing practices to minimise excess inventory.
• Ensure Financial Accuracy: Precise financial reporting and control.
• Enhance Sustainability: Seamless carbon accounting integration with Net Zero Now.

Transformative impact

Zonal’s technology offers end-to-end, real-time visibility over stock management, automates procurement, and reduces wastage. Integrated with Net Zero Now, it enables precise carbon accounting, helping businesses minimise their environmental impact. This collaboration streamlines operations and empowers hospitality businesses to achieve their sustainability targets seamlessly.

“We are thrilled to partner with Zonal,” said Neil Ross Russell, Managing Director of Net Zero Now. “This integration not only streamlines carbon accounting but also empowers hospitality businesses to achieve their sustainability targets seamlessly.”

Tim Chapman, Zonal’s Chief Commercial Officer, added “We value working with partners like Net Zero Now who share our commitment to empowering businesses, allowing our customers to become more cost-effective and resilient in the face of a changing climate. Their solutions will be instrumental in helping our customers not only achieve their environmental goals, but to also make informed decisions that reduce waste, streamline operations, and ultimately create a more sustainable hospitality industry for the future.”

• Net Zero Now: Over 3,000 sites use the platform with CO2 under management, exceeding 1 million tonnes.
• Zonal: Serving over 17,000 hospitality businesses, providing innovative solutions to optimise operations.

For more information on how this integration can benefit your business, visit Net Zero Now’s website. Schedule a demo today and take the first step towards a more sustainable future.