Early feedback suggests that islanders are spending their £100 Spend Local Cards in bars, restaurants and hotels, and it’s a welcome relief, says Simon Soar of the Jersey Hospitality Association.
When it was announced that everyone in Jersey would be getting £100 to spend locally, there was some initial concern over how much of that money would make its way into the hospitality industry.
There are so many different ways people can use that money. For some people, that £100 is going to be used on essential items like food, and that’s understandable for those who have found themselves in financial difficulty. For others, it’ll be spent on a haircut or home renovation. Not everyone will use it for a meal out or put it towards a hotel staycation.
But the early signs are good. We are getting feedback from our members that people are using their cards at hotels, restaurants and bars. It seems that a lot of people are choosing to use some of their £100, if not all of it, on hospitality and that support is very much appreciated.
I think people should use their cards as they see fit, of course, but it is nice to that there is a real understanding about the purpose of the initiative. Some people are keen to spend it in the spirit in which it was given – helping out local businesses that have been hit hard by the pandemic.
If people do want to use their cards to help out hospitality, why not use it as a great opportunity to discover somewhere new? Find a hotel or a restaurant that you’ve not experienced before. There are the same hotels and restaurants that people tend to think of first, but this is a wonderful chance to look beyond the usual suspects and go somewhere you never usually think about. What have you got to lose?
