High street giants call on Chancellor to scrap the tourist tax
Scrap the tourist tax, Chancellor! More than 300 high street giants call on Jeremy Hunt to reinstate tax-free shopping for overseas tourists – supporting our campaign to give the economy the boost it so desperately needs
- Industry bosses believe the Government’s decision is an ‘extraordinary own goal’
- They say the economy desperately needs a shot in the arm amid high inflation
High street giants today called on Jeremy Hunt to help give the economy a boost as they joined with more than 300 retailers backing a call to reinstate tax-free shopping for overseas tourists.
With the economy desperately needing a shot in the arm amid stubborn inflation and rising interest rates, household names such as Primark, Jigsaw and Swatch demanded the Chancellor scrap the ‘tourist tax’.
The bosses of major shops, hotels, restaurants and theatres, including impressario Andrew Lloyd Webber, believe the Government’s decision to remove the VAT refund for visitors is an ‘extraordinary own goal’.
They say the return of tax-free shopping for tourists could bring in hundreds of millions of pounds a year right across the economy when the nation is being forced to tighten its belt.
The Bank of England yesterday raised interest rates to a 15-year high of 5 per cent, from 4.5 per cent, in a bid to quell soaring prices – but the move has prompted fears it could bring about a recession.
Some 300 retailers have written a latter to the Chancellor, Jeremy Hunt (pictured), backing a call to reinstate tax-free shopping for overseas tourists
They say the return of tax-free shopping for tourists could bring in hundreds of millions of pounds a year right across the economy (file image)
More than 320 leading businesses have now signed a letter to Mr Hunt, organised by leading hotelier Sir Rocco Forte, demanding he reinstates tax-free shopping to help the economy.
The Mail’s Scrap The Tourist Tax campaign, which has won cross-party backing, was launched in support of the calls for the Government to think again.
The latest signatories include Primark, Jigsaw, F Hind the Jewellers, the Swatch Group, department store Fenwick and Charlotte Tilbury Beauty.
A host of major attractions have added their support – including the English National Opera and London Coliseum, Tate, Shakespeare’s Globe and Lord Lloyd-Webber’s theatre company The Really Useful Group.
And hotels including The Goring, AGO Hotels, Raffles London at the Old War Office, The Ned, and Lime Wood Group, which owns The Pig chain, as well as Park Plaza – have signed the letter.
Despite private criticism from some in government that tax-free shopping only helps wealthy holidaymakers, the broad range of the latest signatories shows the impact of the tourist tax.
Beth Butterwick, head of Jigsaw, told the Mail the tourist tax meant London was falling behind other cities.
‘The UK’s retail sector is 5 per cent of our economy and employs over three million people,’ she said. ‘But this tourist tax makes us less competitive and means that London is falling behind major competitors like Paris, Rome and Dubai.
‘The case is simple, compelling, and evident: our Chancellor must reinstate tax-free shopping for tourists and secure the UK’s status as a premier destination for tourists who want to shop in the best stores in the world.’
The bosses of major shops, hotels, restaurants and theatres, including impressario Andrew Lloyd Webber (pictured), believe the Government’s decision to remove the VAT refund for visitors is an ‘extraordinary own goal’
The latest signatories include Primark (pictured), Jigsaw, F Hind the Jewellers, the Swatch Group, department store Fenwick and Charlotte Tilbury Beauty
The warning was echoed by Julia Carrick, of Great British Luxury and Brands, who said the ‘entire tourist economy is now at risk’.
‘The figures clearly show we are falling behind Paris, Berlin and Milan and the removal of tax-free shopping is having a very damaging impact,’ she added.
‘Look at Mulberry closing the doors of one of its flagship stores as a direct result and the loss of other great British names such as Hunter. Others will sadly follow.
‘The Chancellor is looking for growth in the economy. The re-introduction of the VAT refund for international travellers will for certain bring greater footfall back to the high street, put money in the tills and the Great back in Britain.’
Tax-free shopping would bring a much-needed £4.1billion boost to GDP and support 78,000 jobs, according to research by Oxford Economics.
And despite the Treasury claiming it would cost £2billion, experts estimate there would be a net gain of around £350million a year because of the knock-on benefits.
The additional tourists attracted by tax-free shopping would spend across the country and the economy, in hotels, restaurants, entertainment and transport, generating separate tax revenues and creating jobs.
Campaigners say the removal of the scheme is driving tourists away from London and Edinburgh to rivals such as Paris, Madrid and Milan.
MPs and peers previously wrote to Prime Minister Rishi Sunak (pictured) to warn that the UK’s economy and global reputation was being damaged by the refusal to scrap the tourist tax
Earlier this year, British brand Mulberry closed its Bond Street store as a result of the loss of tax-free shopping.
Research also suggests the recovery from the pandemic is being hampered by the removal of the scheme.
A host of senior MPs from across the political spectrum – including two former chancellors – have backed the campaign, and serving Cabinet ministers are known to have privately taken up the case.
Last month more than 40 MPs and peers wrote to Mr Sunak to warn that the UK’s economy and global reputation was being damaged by the refusal to reinstate tax-free shopping for overseas tourists.
They urged the Prime Minister to commission an independent assessment of the full impact of tax-free shopping on the economy.
Support for the Mail’s campaign has been snowballing over the last two months, with heavyweights including Harrods, Marks & Spencer and British Airways urging the Government to ditch the tax.
The bosses of 20 airports have also backed the campaign, as well as the Ritz London, Selfridges, and fashion brands Jimmy Choo, Alexander McQueen and Victoria Beckham.
Axel Rüger, secretary and chief executive of the Royal Academy of Arts, said: ‘Removing the choice of tax-free shopping has affected not only luxury retail but the wider economy of international visitors and their expenditure.
‘The complexity this has added to sales of art, together with its wider effect upon tourist spend in galleries, theatres and restaurants, has been very notable, and put London at a significant disadvantage to its European neighbours for international clients and guests.
‘When the cultural and heritage sectors – so crucial to our economy – are striving to recover from the pandemic, the UK Government should be doing everything in its power to encourage tourism and international spend at every level.
The Bank of England have raised interest rates to a 15-year high of 5 per cent, from 4.5 per cent, in a bid to quell soaring prices. Pictured: Bank of England Governor Andrew Bailey during an event at The Cambridge Union, November 25, 2021
‘I urge the Government to reverse their decision and to re-introduce tax-free shopping to the UK.’
Joss Croft of UKinbound, which represents major hotel and restaurant chains, retailers, attractions and tour operators, said the tourist tax was having a ‘detrimental effect’.
The chief executive added:‘On the face of it, perhaps the removal of this tax break for our international visitors doesn’t seem like a big deal to our politicians but the facts and statistics are speaking for themselves.
‘Research from VisitBritain tells us that when visiting a city in the UK shopping is the second most popular activity for overseas visitors and so it is not surprising that now a key incentive is removed, these visitors are going to Paris, Rome, Dublin and other European capitals instead of coming to the UK.
‘This has a wider detrimental effect on our tourism and hospitality industry at a time when many of these businesses are still recovering from the impact of the pandemic.’
An HM Treasury spokesman said: ‘VAT-free shopping does not directly benefit Brits – it allows foreign tourists who buy items in the UK to claim back VAT as they return home.
‘We are backing high street retailers by slashing business rates bills by 75per cent and effectively cutting corporation tax by £27 billion through full-expensing.’
Revealed: The letter calling on the Chancellor to ‘think again’ on his removal of tax-free shopping – and all the signatories who support it
DEAR CHANCELLOR,
The pandemic placed most businesses under acute pressure, particularly those in the hospitality, retail, travel and tourism sectors which we represent. So, the Treasury’s decision in 2021 to end the longstanding scheme that allowed international tourists to shop tax-free was puzzling and ill-timed.
Liz Truss’s shortlived government announced plans to reintroduce the VAT rebate to boost the high street, but this has now been reversed.
Every country remaining in the EU now offers tax-free shopping, while we don’t. Effectively, we have suddenly started charging 20 per cent more than other countries do for the same goods. The Treasury claims this move is saving the taxpayer £2billion a year, but this is flawed and misleading. The foreign visitors who have traditionally come from the US, Middle East, China and elsewhere to shop for the best of British inject large sums into the broader economy, on top of what they spend on retail purchases.
Figures from Visit Britain show that shopping has traditionally been one of the most popular reasons cited for visiting the UK. Indeed, British business traditionally made £3.5billion in tax-free sales to tourists every year. The scheme benefited tourist hotspots like London, Manchester, and Edinburgh, as well as out of town shopping villages.
Visitors did not just spend in retail stores – their custom supported hotels, restaurants, and theatres. Oxford Economics has concluded that if all the economic impacts of a tax-free shopping scheme are taken into consideration, the UK would, in fact, benefit to the tune of hundreds of millions of pounds a year.
The impact of its removal is already being seen. It was depressing to witness a great British brand like Mulberry closing the doors of one of its flagship stores as a direct result of the loss of tax-free shopping, as it did earlier this year.
New research from tax-free shopping experts Global Blue shows the UK is losing out on the significant spending made by international travellers as global travel resumes. Paris, Madrid and Milan can’t believe their luck as the UK’s lack of tax-free shopping drives travellers to spend in Europe.
Data covering international visitors from the USA, Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) and south-east Asia regions from a sample of 11 leading retailers shows that whilst the UK has recovered post-pandemic to 64 per cent of
2019 levels of consumer spending, Italy is at 79 per cent, Spain at 84 per cent and France, which is benefiting most from the UK Government’s decision to remove tax-free shopping, has recovered to 108 per cent.
Looking at individual nationalities, the differences become even more pronounced. For USA visitors, the UK is back to 101 per cent of 2019 spend. However, Italy is enjoying spending from US visitors at 190 per cent of 2019 levels. Spain is up to 201 per cent and France is at a staggering 226 per cent.
For GCC visitors, the UK is at only 65 per cent of 2019 levels whilst Spain is already at 158 per cent, Italy at 166 per cent, and France topping out at 198 per cent.
In addition, UK residents are starting to take advantage of tax-free shopping in Europe, with £450million disappearing from high streets.
It is clear that the removal of tax-free shopping is turning into an extraordinary own goal for the UK.
We understand that there are pressures on the public finances at the present time. But the evidence shows that reinstating tax-free shopping would be a win for both business and the taxpayer.
We call on you to think again.
Yours sincerely,
Irene Forte, CEO & Founder, Irene Forte Skincare
Stephanie Phair, Group President, Farfetch
Martin Travis, Managing Director, Symbolic & Chase
Duncan Palmer, Managing Director, The Beaumont Hotel
Marnie Serpell, Managing Director, agnes b
Tony Matharu, Executive Chairman, Blue Orchid Hotels
James Williams, Chief Executive, The Shaftesbury Theatre
Claire Walker & Hannah Essex, Co-CEOs at Society Of London Theatre
Alex Walduck, Director, Imperial London Hotels
Joanna Hansford, Managing Director, Jo Hansford
Emily Campin, Director, Gladwelll & Patterson
Andy Murphy, Director, A Murphy Shoe
Vanessa Kingori, Chief Business Operator, Conde Nast Britain
Grant Campbell, General Manager, Nobu Hotel London
James Timpson, Owner, Jeeves
Chris Galvin, Chef/Patron, Galvin Restaurants
Henry Hales, Founder, SIRPLUS
Lisa Montague, CEO, Sanderson Design Group
Andrea Nunziata, Managing Director, The Swatch Group (UK)
Maria Venegas, UK Country Manager, Vilebrequin
Daniel Brennan, Brand Director, Laurent-Perrier UK
Jeremy Goring, Chief Executive, The Goring
Oscar Macdonald, Global Commercial Director, Begg x Co
Shelley Tichborne, Founder & CEO, Mou Limited
Felix Parker, Founder, Fairfax and Favor
Bo van Langeveld, Founder & CEO, Baudoin & Lange
Mike Sadler, Director, APML Estate
Kyron Keogh, Co-Founder & Managing Director, ROX Diamonds & Thrills
Beth Butterwick, CEO, Jigsaw
Andrew Hinds, Chairman, F. Hinds the Jewellers
Elizabeth von der Goltz, CEO, Browns (Fashion)
Gordon Samuel, Founder, Osborne Samuel
Philippa Gibson, Trade Sales Manager, Robert Langford
Flo Bayley, Director, Flo Bayley
Gina Gibbons, Manager, Norton and Sons
Sama Chanda, Director, Alidad
Patrick Birkbeck, Managing Director, The House of Bruar
Lady Deirdre Dyson, Founder & CEO, Deirdre Dyson Carpets
Sir David Bell, Chair, Mozartfest
George Bamford, Founder & CEO, Bamford Watch Department & Bamford London
Lord Lloyd Webber, Owner, The Really Useful Group
Jason Scott, Owner, Brook Taverner
John Rigas, Executive Chairman, Asprey London
Professor Stephen Bayley, Chairman, The Royal Fine Art Commission Trust
Daliah Hearn, Global Chief Operating Officer, Poster Girl
Thomas Muers-Raby, CMO, Gieves & Hawkes
Jason Gerrard, CEO, Threadology
Oliver Spencer, Founder & CEO, Favourbrook
Fatma Ghaly, CEO, Azza Fahmy Ltd
Philippe Leboeuf, Managing Director, Raffles London at the OWO (Old War Office)
George Glasgow Jr, CEO, George Cleverley
Andrew P. Goldberg, National Sales Manager, Scabal UK
Joss Graham, Owner, Joss Graham Gallery
Fiona Pearce, Landscape Artist, Fiona Pearce Art
Digby Summerhill, Managing Director, Minotti London
Lavinia Dargie, Founder & Interior Designer, Dargie Lewis Designs
Karen Howes, CEO, Taylor Howes
Michael Rose, Director, Michael Rose Jewels
Suzi Searle, Founder & Interior Designer, Suzi Searle Interiors
Gavin Rankin, Managing Director, Bellamy’s Restaurant
Viviane Goodwin, Founder & Managing Director, Goodwin & Goodwin
Jon Rhodes, Founder & CEO, Jon Rhodes Curtain Makers
Cyrille-Adrien Bordas, Showroom Manager, Colefax and Fowler
Sami Helakorpi, Founder & Creative Director, Million Dreams Media
Michael Silberling, CEO, Metropolitan Gaming
Kate Bingham, Owner, Kate Bingham Interior Design
Catherine Best, Founder & Creative Director and & Paul Freeman, Managing Director, Catherine Best Jewellery
Simon Thomas, Executive Chairman, The Hippodrome Casino
William & Lucy Asprey, Chairman & Founder, William & Son
Michael Branson, Managing Director, Crown London Aspinalls
Demetra Pinsent, CEO, Charlotte Tilbury Beauty
Conor O’Leary, General Manager, The Gleneagles Hotel
Tessa Kennedy, Owner, Tessa Kennedy
Matthew Hockley Smith, Director, Hockley Smith Fine Art Consulting
Lidia Festa, Director, Italia Accessories
John Edgar, CEO, Fenwick
Noll Uloth, Managing Director, Cordings of Piccadilly
Ian Maclean, Managing Director, John Smedley
Audrey Minard, CEO, Roja Parfums
Edward Bodenham, Perfumery Director, Floris
Iain Milligan, Managing Director, Huddersfield Fine Worsteds
Joy Leese, Director, RubyKite
Araminta Birse-Stewart, Founder & Creative Director, Araminta Campbell
Stuart Murphy, Chief Executive, ENO (English National Opera) and London Coliseum
Joss Croft, CEO, Ukinbound
Colin Campbell & Kareen Campbell, Directors, McRostie of Glasgow
Anne Golden, Vice President, Ops for UK and North America, Pan Pacific Hotels Group
Barrie Kelly, CEO, Visit Greenwich
Jeremy Rees, CEO, ExCeL London
Ian Edwards, Chief Executive, The Celtic Manor Resort
Kieran Quinn, General Manager, Kimpton Charlotte Square Hotel, Edinburgh
Sam Moss, General Manager, The Castle Hotel Windsor
Robert Richardson, Chief Executive, Institute of Hospitality
James Clarke, General Manager, Hilton London Bankside
Maria Balshaw, Director, Tate
Axel Rüger, Secretary & Chief Executive, Royal Academy of Arts
Neil Constable, Chief Executive, Shakespeare’s Globe
Nic Durston, Chair British, BIDs (Business Improvement Districts)
Victoria Carfantan, Director, Champagne Bollinger UK
Laura Stevenson, Executive Director, The Old Vic
Jonathan Raggett, CEO, Red Carnation Hotels
Peter Walker, Managing Director, Mayculter House
Jason Parry, General Manager, Mercure Paignton
David Sharpe, Chair, South Bank Employers’ Group
Govert Deketh, Chair, South Bank Business Improvement District
Robin Hutson, Chairman, Lime Wood Group Ltd & Home Grown Hotels Ltd
Simon Numphud, Managing Director, AA Media
Daniel Pedreschi, Regional Vice President, Operations, UK pphe Hotel Group
David Silver Managing, Director/Owner, The Vintage Watch Company
David Duggan, Owner/Managing Director, David Duggan Watches
Joshua Kane, Owner/Founder, Joshua Kane Bespoke
James McComas, General Manager, Eastwell Manor
Michael Lord, UK Manager, Isaia
Cengiz Ilhan, Owner, Nexalert
Richard Miers, Owner, Richard Miers Garden Designer
Sally Storey, Creative Director, John Cullen Lighting
Stefanie Hardy, General Manager, Park Plaza
Gareth Banner, Group Managing Director, The Ned
Andrew Oxley, Resort General Manager, Bicester Hotel Golf & Spa
Adrian North, Managing Director, The British Emporium
Elaine Bedell, CEO, Southbank Centre
Sir Alistair Spalding, Artistic Director & CEO, Sadlers Wells Trust
David Cook, Managing Director, Denman & Goddard
Adam Skrzypczak, General Manager, Aviator Hotel Hampshire
Paul Marchant, Chief Executive, Primark
Helen Dickinson, CEO, British Retail Consortium
Paul Bayliss, General Manager, The Ropewalks Hotel, Liverpool
And the 200 who have already signed:
Sir Rocco Forte, Chairman, Rocco Forte Hotels
Sean Doyle, CEO and Chairman, British Airways
Thierry Andretta, CEO, Mulberry
Neil Clifford, CEO, Kurt Geiger
Caroline Rush, CEO, British Fashion Council
Alex Beard, CEO, Royal Opera House
Anya Hindmarch, Founder & CEO, Anya Hindmarch
John Holland-Kaye, Chief Executive, Heathrow Airport
Sir Paul Smith, Designer, Paul Smith
Tom Athron, CEO, Fortnum & Mason
Jonathan Akeroyd, CEO, Burberry
Helen Brocklebank, CEO, Walpole
Hannah Colman, CEO, Jimmy Choo
Christopher Cowdray, CEO, Dorchester Collection
Dee Corsi, CEO, New West End Company
Paul Barnes, CEO, Association of International Retail
Gianfilippo Testa, CEO, Alexander McQueen
Paul Jackson, General Manager, Claridge’s
Manju Malhotra, CEO, Harvey Nichols
John Durnin, Business Director, Bicester Village
Knut Wylde, General Manager, The Berkeley
Eric Heerema, Chairman and CEO, Nyetimber
Kiki McDonough, Founder and Creative Director, Kiki McDonough
Sandeep Bhalla, General Manager, The Connaught
Theo Fennell, Founder, Theo Fennell
Andrew Stembridge, Executive Director, Iconic Luxury Hotels
Franck X Arnold, Regional Vice President and Managing Director, The Savoy London
Christian Bachler, Executive Vice President, Wedgwood
Guillaume Marly, Managing Director, Hotel Café Royal
Andrew Henning, General Manager, Grosvenor House Suites
Antony Lindsay, CEO, Fabergé
Thomas Kochs, Managing Director, Corinthia London
Michael Wainwright, Managing Director, Boodles
Mosimann’s Private Dining Club, Philipp and Mark Mosimann,
Michael Bonsor, Managing Director, Rosewood London
Claire German, CEO, Design Centre Chelsea Harbour
Julia Carrick, CEO, Julia Carrick Luxury
Hugh Seaborn, CVO and CEO, Cadogan
Joanne Rees, Managing Director, Elizabeth Gage
Trevor Pickett, CEO, Pickett
Brian Duffy, CEO, Watches of Switzerland Group
Pamela Harper, Chairman and CEO, Halcyon Days and The Caverswall China Company
Giles English, Co-Founder, Bremont Watch Company
Chris Roberts, Managing Director, Como Holdings
Sophia Hirsh, Managing Director, Hirsh London
Nicholas Bond, Owner and Director, Franchetti Bond
George Somlo, Director, Somlo Antiques London
Adil Mehboob-Khan, CEO, Liberty London
Luca Donnini, CEO, Temperley London
Derrick Hardman, Managing Director, Global Blue (UK)
David Edwards, Managing Director, Seiko UK
Robert Ettinger, CEO, Ettinger London
Charlie Pragnell, Managing Director, Pragnell
Annoushka Ducas, Founder and Creative Director, Annoushka Jewellery
Erdem Moralioglu, Designer, & Philippa Nixon, CEO, Erdem
Sean Gilbertson, CEO, Gemfields
Adrian Maronneau, Managing Director, Bucherer UK
Nicholas Brooke, CEO, Sunspel Limited
Simon Cundey, Managing Director, Henry Poole
Martin Mason, Managing Director, Tricker’s
Sacha Rose, CEO, Derek Rose Ltd
Charlie Holland, CEO, Gusbourne Fine English Wines
Julian Moore, Managing Director, DR Harris
Hilary Freeman, Managing Director, Edward Green
Jamie Gill, Executive Director, Roksanda
Chris Gaffney, CEO, Johnstons of Elgin
Steven Medway, Chief Executive,Knightsbridge Partnership and King’s Road Partnership
Baton Berisha, CEO, The Wolseley Hospitality Group
Jonathan Reekie, Director, Somerset House Trust
Chrissie Rucker, Founder, & Mary Homer, CEO, The White Company
Philip Mould, Founder, Philip Mould and Company
Prudence Gibson, Founder and Creative Director, E P O K
Ewan Venters, CEO, Hauser and Wirth
Jeremy Morris, CEO and Creative Director, David Morris Jewels
Emma Willis, Owner, Emma Willis
Joanne Taylor-Stagg, General Manager, The Athenaeum Hotel and Residences
Mark Evans, Managing Director, Bentley and Skinner
Ben Dalrymple, Managing Director, Lock and Co. Hatters
Emmy Scarterfield, Designer, & Dickie Higgins, Managing Director, Emmy London
Henry Deakin, Managing Director, Deakin and Francis
Dean Girling, Director, Gaziano and Girling
Sue Medway, Director, Chelsea Physic Garden
Archie Hewlett, Founder, Duke and Dexter
Fedro Gaudenzi, Founder and Director, Fedro Gaudenzi
Jonathan Church, Joint Managing Director, Cheaney Shoes Ltd
Irene Mateides, Founder and Publishing Director, FMS
Robert Ogden, Executive Director, Richard Ogden Ltd
Andrew Guest, Commercial Director, Thomas Goode and Co. Ltd
Emma Fox, Chief Executive, Berry Bros. and Rudd
Lalage Beaumont, Owner, Lalage Beaumont
Steve Murdoch, Head of Retail Operations, Crockett and Jones
Roger Thornton, Head of Property, Burlington Arcade
James Sleater, Director, Cad & Dandy
Victoria Houghton, CEO, Hamilton and Inches
Natalie Lake, Managing Director, Really Wild Clothing
Pippa Anderson, Owner, Pippa Anderson
Joanna Wood, CEO, Joanna Wood
Tim Gosling, Director, Gosling
EmmaJane Knight, Founder, EmmaJane Knight
Adam Holdsworth, Owner and Creative Director, N. Peal
Joanne Milner, Chief Executive, Garrard
Ros Morgan, Chief Executive, Heart of London Business Alliance
Sheherazade Goldsmith, Co-founder and Designer, Loquet London
Peggy Porschen, Creative Director, Peggy Porschen Group
Simon MacLachlan, Owner & Director, Piccadilly Vaults
Kim L Winser, Founder & CEO, Winser London
Martin Nicholls, Managing Director, Norton & Sons
Susannah Lovis, Owner, Susannah Lovis Jewellers
Kevin Martel, Founder, Martel+Ram
Matthew Wildsmith, Owner, Wildsmith Jewellery
Marie Leblanc, CEO, Victoria Beckham
Kieran McCarthy, Joint Managing Director, Wartski
Huntsman, Taj Phull, Managing Director
Anda Rowland, Vice Chaiman, Anderson & Sheppard
Olivier Bonnefoy, Founder, Gentlemen’s Tonic
Anke Summerhill, Creative director and Owner, Minotti London
Stephen Webster, Founder & Creative Director, Stephen Webster
Tobias Caesari, Senior Vice President, UK & Ireland, Planet
Claire Zambuni, Director & Founder, Zambuni
Sari Wildsmith, Founder, ambustum
William Skinner, Managing Director, Dege & Skinner
Carine de Koenigswarter, CEO, Swaine
Josephine Jenno, Founder, Casa By JJ
Adam Rogers, Owner, Adret
Susie Reid Thomas, Founder and Creative Director, Twilight Trees
Stuart Machin, CEO, Marks & Spencer
Dominic Sebag-Montefiore, Managing Director, Edward Sexton
Fiona Dreesmann, Founder, Fiona Finds
Paul Garrett, Managing Director, Fox Umbrellas
Shannon de Boissard, Founding Partner & CEO, Percy & Reed
Bernard Dreesmann, Chairman, Morley Stores Group
Caroline Andrew, Founder, Caroline Andrew
Stephen Murphy, Chairman, Budd (Shirt Makers)
Roger Saul, Owner, Sharpham Park
Freya Simms, CEO, LAPADA
Stephen Burton, Managing Director, Hancock & Co.
Karen Dee, Chief Executive, Airport Operators Association
Andrew Bell, Chief Executive, Regional and City Airports (including Exeter, Norwich and Bournemouth Airports)
Spencer Birns, Chief Executive, Cardiff Airport
Andy Cliffe, Chief Executive, AGS Airports (including Aberdeen, Glasgow & Southampton Airports)
Charlie Cornish, Group Chief Executive, Manchester Airports Group (incl Manchester, E Midlands & Stansted Airports)
Gordon Dewar, Chief Executive, Edinburgh Airport
Steve Frazer, Managing Director, City of Derry Airport
Vincent Hodder, Chief Executive, Leeds Bradford Airport
Nick Jones, Chief Executive, Newcastle Airport
Graham Keddie, Managing Director, Belfast International Airport
Dave Lees, Chief Executive, Bristol Airport
Alberto Martin, Chief Executive, London Luton Airport
Robert Sinclair, Chief Executive, London City Airport
Stewart Wingate, Chief Executive, Gatwick Airport
Lord Bruce Dundas, Managing Director, Buccellati
Andrew Black, CEO & Founder, Andrew Black Bespoke, Savile Row
Lindsay Taylor, Director, Holland and Sherry
Georges Karam, Founder, Nourbel & Le Cavelier
Saloni Lodha, Founder, Saloni
Piotr Krzymowski, Co-Founder, Loop Generation
Alistair Tusting, Managing Director, JR Tusting
Alison Lloyd, Founder & Creative Head, Ally Capellino
Rebecca Simonds, CEO, Authentic Bespoke
Jonathan Docherty, Director, JD Docherty
Richard Lewis, Owner, V V Rouleaux
Veere Grenney, Owner, Veere Grenney Associates
Wendy Nicholls, Managing Director, Sibyl Colefax & John Fowler
David Mason, CEO, Mason & Sons
Lionel Benjamin, Co-Founder, AGO Hotels
David Taylor, CEO, Lore Group
Richard Ross, Chairman and Co Founder, Trotters Childrenswear
Andrew Thomson, General Manager, Be London Apartments
Sally Beck, General Manager, Royal Lancaster London
Mark Saunders, Executive Chairman, Mamas & Papas
Robin Sheppard, President, Bespoke Hotels
Philip Lewis, General Manager, The Randolph Hotel by Graduate Hotels
Timothy Griffin, Co-Founder & Principal, Wellbrook Hospitality & LEVEN Hotels
Henrik Muehle, Managing Director, Flemings Mayfair
James Olivier, General Manager, The Dilly
Ninai Zarach, Director, Manicomio Restaurant Group
Kostas Sfaltos, General Manager, Bulgari Hotel London
Sophie Goodbrey, Owner, Dix-Sept
Serena von der Heyde, Partner, Georgian House Hotel
Zofia Torun-Shaw, Director, Laird Hatters
Jonathan Boston, Managing Director, Christys’ London & CW Headdress
Matt Townley, Regional Operations Director, Dakota Hotels
Roddy Smith, Chief Executive, Essential Edinburgh
Ruth Duston, Executive Director, Cheapside Business Alliance & London HQ
Torsten van Dulleman, Area Vice President, Mandarin Oriental Hotel Group
Arnaud de Saint-Exupéry, Area Vice President & General Manager, Hyatt Hotels Corporation
Hector Cassegrain, Managing Director, Longchamp
Bob van den Oord, Managing Director & Regional VP Operations, The Langham London
Daisy Knatchbull, Founder, The Deck London
Mathew Anderson, CEO, Jenny Packham (London)
Alexander Jan, Chairman, Central Business Alliance Business Improvement District
Andrew Keith, Managing Director, Selfridges
Peter Wood, CEO, AllSaints & John Varvatos
Dr Sri Sriram, Managing Director, Supreme Creations/ Bags of Ethics
Aiden McAuley, Chief Operating Officer Managed Hotels, Accor Europe & North Africa
Simon McLaughlin, General Manager, Holiday Inn Kensington
Sal Gowili, General Manager, The Ritz London
Vincenzo Equestre, Chairman, Ferragamo UK
Bernard Donoghue, Director, The Association of Leading Visitor Attractions
Scott Thomson, CEO, Astley Clark
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