North hoteliers are hoping Theresa May’s departure from Downing Street will not stand in the way of top-level talks they have demanded on their “pressing fears” over Brexit.
Bosses at Glen Mhor Hotel, Inverness, wrote to the prime minister earlier this month, inviting her to a working lunch with Inverness Hotels Association (IHA) and members of the Highland Business Network.
They say that, despite tourism being a key driver in the Highland economy, hotels are struggling to recruit overseas staff due to Brexit, and there are fears wage inflation and rising costs for EU goods will see businesses fold.
Glen Mhor owner Jon Erasmus said: “Scotland needs a work plan which will still attract overseas workers after Brexit.
“Before, we had large numbers of CVs from people keen to come to the Highlands and commit to a future from overseas.
“Now, we are down to single-figure applicants.
“People won’t commit because they don’t know what the future will be like and it is creating wage inflation because there are not enough qualified domestic staff to compensate.
“We need to see what the government’s plan is.”
IHA chairman Emmanuel Moine added: “If these people can’t be attracted, businesses will close and the tourist experience will decline.
“It is these issues we need to address with government, which is why we have invited them to the Glen Mhor.”