Mayor meets with business owners to discuss support for the Hospitality sector

Greater Lincolnshire Mayor Dame Andrea Jenkyns chaired a hospitality roundtable at Kenwick Park Hotel in Louth to explore rising operational costs and a 6.4% drop in Lincolnshire employment within the sector. 

Meeting with local business owners representing more than 1,000 employees, the Mayor discussed the need to protect the area’s £1 billion visitor economy as changing consumer habits impact trade. 

The discussion highlighted the impact of rising gas, electricity, and supplier costs, alongside the cumulative pressure of rising business rates, VAT, and overheads such as fire regulations and wage increases. 

Greater Lincolnshire Mayor Dame Andrea Jenkyns chaired a hospitality roundtable at Kenwick Park Hotel in Louth to explore rising operational costs and a 6.4% drop in Lincolnshire employment within the sector. 

Meeting with local business owners representing more than 1,000 employees, the Mayor discussed the need to protect the area’s £1 billion visitor economy as changing consumer habits impact trade. 

The discussion highlighted the impact of rising gas, electricity, and supplier costs, alongside the cumulative pressure of rising business rates, VAT, and overheads such as fire regulations and wage increases.  

Mayor Dame Andrea Jenkyns said: 

"I was astonished to hear the eye-watering costs our local businesses are facing. This meeting was a vital reality check. While I don’t have a magic wand to change national tax rates, I am going to use every bit of my platform to lobby the Government and shout for Greater Lincolnshire’ s Hospitability businesses. 

"We need a common-sense approach to unleashing our local economy. We are going to look at how we can help to drive footfall through better transport and by backing our own people with the right skills. This is about livelihoods and the heart of our communities. I am not going to leave any stone unturned, if we can help, we will. We aren't just going to sit back; we are going to fight for our local trade." 

The insights shared today will inform the Combined Authority’s investigation into future support and investment. 

Notes to Editors 

• The Visitor Economy 

Hospitality Sector Value: The sector is worth approximately £0.94 billion. This total includes direct business turnover and indirect expenditure, such as supply chain activity and employee spending in the local economy. 

Employment Figures: The sector currently supports approximately 13,600 employees. 

Local vs National Trends: While the national hospitality sector saw a growth of 1.1% between 2023 and 2024, local employment in the sector fell by 6.4% during the same period. 

The Roundtable: The event was held on Friday 8th May 2026 at Kenwick Park Hotel, Louth. It was convened by the Combined County Authority (GLCCA) as a "fact-finding mission" to bridge the gap between industry challenges and new devolved powers. 

Devolved Support: The Authority is investigating how the Adult Skills Fund and transport strategies can be tailored to address the downward employment trend and support the recruitment of hospitality staff. 

• The Greater Lincolnshire Combined County Authority 

The GLCCA brings together local leaders to drive investment, skills, transport, and economic growth. It is led by the first Mayor, Dame Andrea Jenkyns, who was elected in May 2025. Created in early 2025, the Authority is built on a devolution deal that ensures funding decisions are made locally rather than in London. While Lincolnshire County Council, North Lincolnshire Council, and North East Lincolnshire Council continue to provide their usual services, the GLCCA works with partners and central government to unlock new opportunities and champion Greater Lincolnshire on a national stage.