The proportion of Scottish hotel companies deemed to be at greater than usual risk of insolvency in the next 12 months eased in the first half of the year.
A new survey, published by insolvency and restructuring trade body R3, has also found a decline in the number of restaurants facing an elevated risk of failure, though the proportion of pubs at heightened risk remained unchanged.
The R3 insolvency risk tracker found the percentage of hotels at greater than usual risk of insolvency dipped to 36.8 per cent in June from 37.2% in January, while the proportion of restaurants in that category dipped to 33.2% from 34%. The percentage of pub firms at elevated risk stayed broadly flat, at 31.2% in June versus 31.3% in January. Across all sectors, R3 found the percentage of firms at above-average risk of insolvency was unchanged in the six months at 35.4%.
Tim Cooper, chair of R3 in Scotland and a partner at law firm Addleshaw Goddard, said: “As Scottish hospitality and tourism companies gear up for the busy summer period, R3’s research should provide some sunshine, as it shows a notable level of resilience so far this year for some of our country’s most important industries.”
But he said that hospitality and tourism businesses are “facing some headwinds” with costs rising due to recent increases in the minimum wage and auto-enrolment payments. Mr Cooper added: “It’s hard to say what effect Brexit will have on tourist levels, although the pound’s relative weakness is encouraging overseas visitors... by the same token encouraging people from the UK to holiday nearer to home. “
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