Following the merger of the Association of Licensed Multiple Retailers (ALMR) and British Hospitality Association (BHA) last year, Nicholls said UKHospitality has the strength, breadth and experience to support the industry and finally stand a chance at being heard - by the UK government, media and investors alike.
Together, the new unified voice covers all outlets from pubs and bars to cafes, hotels and caterers, which contribute £40 million of UK tax – the equivalent of the entire defense budget or, as Nicholls exclaimed, the cost of the Brexit divorce.
As the third-largest private sector employer, the hospitality industry accounted for one in eight of all new jobs last year and is currently worth around £130 billion in the UK.
Not only is Nicholls calling on the UK government for help – listing business rates as the current most prominent issue - but said she is keen to work with them, to help government achieve its goal and aspirations too.