Despite new Covid-related rules affecting the hospitality sector, and a host of cancellations across his three hospitality businesses as the Covid pandemic continues, business owner Gavin Cassidy is remaining optimistic despite taking a hit from the latest impact of the evolving pandemic.

Speaking about the certification system that was officially introduced this week, Gavin said: “From last Monday, when it came out of Stormont about the covid passports, we have had approximately 500 bookings either been moved [postponed] or cancelled.”

Such bookings that have been affected are spread across the group of hospitality businesses owned by the Cassidy family, including The Westville Hotel, The Firehouse restaurant and Crowes Nest bar.

The new system puts a lot of pressure on staff in the hospitality sector, Gavin added.

“I feel sorry for the staff; I know how hard my staff are working.

"We have a staff shortage, with a combination of people not coming back into hospitality since the lockdown, and with the contact-tracing, and now the vaccine passports are creating more workload on an already understaffed building.”

Gavin has empathy with Stormont and the ministers who are making decisions on the pandemic, but added: “I understand they are trying their best, and with a new variant and new information on a weekly basis that they are dealing with themselves too.

"[But] I do think they need to negotiate and speak with the hospitality sector.”

There has also been some hesitation from customers now that the Covid vaccination passport system has been introduced.

Gavin revealed that, as of Monday, some customers believe the new guidance to be too strict, but others believe it is not strict enough.

The scheme, which came into effect on Monday for licensed premises, requires people to show proof of vaccination or a negative Covid test to enter some venues and events.

However, there is a two-week grace period before fines are imposed on December 13 on venues that fail to comply with the new rule.

It had been previously been thought that all hospitality businesses would take part in the scheme, but an announcement by Stormont last Friday evening confirmed that only licensed premises will be impacted.

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Café owner Sharon Morrison, of Rebecca’s Coffee Shop, The Buttermarket, believes that is it likely that all hospitality businesses will see the introduction of vaccination certification passports in the future.

She said: “I think we will eventually have them, in time. It is good that [Stormont] is being proactive to stop spreading the disease, and they are bringing this in to try and keep hospitality open."

Sharon added:“I appreciate the reasons why it has happened, and it's about keeping hospitality open, and I think everyone is prepared to just get on with it because there have been so many things that hospitality has just had to do.”

She concluded: “Hospitality seems to be getting hit with constant jobs to do, especially at this time when there is a shortage of staff.

"I’m just glad it’s not this side of Christmas for us.”