Hotels and hospitality business liquidation advice

Hotels and hospitality businesses around the UK have been severely affected by the coronavirus pandemic, which continues to cause widespread disruption and long-term financial issues.

Although the summer of 2020 saw hospitality businesses reopening, this was a narrow window of trading that for many was insufficient to stop the downward financial spiral. If you operate in the hospitality sector or own a hotel, you should seek urgent liquidation advice from a licensed insolvency practitioner (IP) to find the best way forward.

Why have hotels and hospitality businesses been so badly affected?

The uncertainty over future restrictions, often imposed at short notice, as well as concerns over picking up the virus, are likely to have contributed to low booking numbers overall. Business travel has also considerably reduced, as companies use technology for meetings and conferences rather than travelling.  

Early professional insolvency advice is crucial when business has been so badly affected - liquidation is one potential avenue, but there could be other options. If your business is restructured, for example, it may be able to carry on without the elements that were making it unprofitable. Streamlining and simplifying a business can create the lighter, more agile structure that’s better able to deal with difficult trading conditions such as these.

Liquidation advice for the hotel and hospitality sector

UK Liquidators can provide the reliable professional advice you need if your business is struggling. We’ll clarify your current financial position and clearly present your best options so you can take action with confidence.

If liquidation and closure is the only choice, a Creditors’ Voluntary Liquidation (CVL) process should be followed. This ensures your business is closed down according to statutory insolvency laws, and protects you from allegations of wrongful trading.

Although clearly not the best outcome, entering into a CVL would allow eligible staff to claim redundancy pay. If you’ve worked as an employee of the company, you may also be able to claim redundancy as a director.

Creditors’ Voluntary Liquidation for hotel and hospitality businesses

As a company director you can decide when to place your business into liquidation, and also choose your own liquidator. As Creditors’ Voluntary Liquidation is a formal procedure, only a licensed insolvency practitioner can carry it out.

In brief, the liquidator will have the company’s assets professionally valued, and then sell them at auction. Following the sale, all proceeds are distributed amongst creditors in the statutory order.

Any debts that remain at the end of this process can be written off under a CVL, unless a personal guarantee has been provided. In this case, you’d be personally liable to repay the outstanding borrowing.

Claiming director redundancy following liquidation

As we mentioned earlier, as a company director you may be able to claim redundancy pay and other statutory entitlements when you liquidate your company. The eligibility criteria include:

• Working for your company under a contract of employment for at least two years
• Taking a regular salary through PAYE
• Working a minimum of 16 hours per week
• Being owed money by the business – your initial investment, for example
• Fulfilling a role that’s more than advisory

Don’t forget, however, that liquidation may not be your only option - there might be steps you can take to save your company.

Rescuing hotel and hospitality businesses in financial distress

Our expert team at UK Liquidators will identify any rescue or recovery measures that are appropriate for your hotel or hospitality business. One such option might be to restructure your debts within a formal agreement called a Company Voluntary Arrangement (CVA).

It may also be possible to streamline the business so you can carry on trading without the elements that were exacerbating your financial decline. Although restructuring might involve staff redundancies, the resulting business would be better able to deal with the extreme challenges of today’s pandemic world.

If you would like more trustworthy liquidation advice for your hotel or hospitality business, please contact one of our partner-led team at UK Liquidators. We can offer you a free, same-day consultation to quickly assess your present position and best options. We operate an extensive network of offices throughout the UK.