Tom Gordon MP has joined as a member of the Hospitality and Tourism All-Party Parliamentary Group (APPG)
APPG is a cross-party group that works to promote and support the hospitality and tourism sectors across the UK.
With a strong commitment to the hospitality and tourism sector, Tom has immediately taken action to address key issues impacting the industry, particularly in his Harrogate and Knaresborough constituency.
Upon joining the APPG, Tom emphasised the critical importance of the Harrogate Convention Centre to the local economy.
As a cornerstone of Harrogate’s hospitality and tourism industry, the Centre plays a vital role in attracting visitors, supporting local businesses, and driving economic growth.
In his initial remarks, Tom highlighted pressing concerns related to staffing in the hospitality sector.
He noted the challenges that businesses face in recruiting and retaining staff, particularly due to the rising cost of living in Harrogate and Knaresborough.
Tom said:
"The Harrogate Convention Centre is one of the most important economic drivers for our local community.
"It's becoming increasingly difficult for workers in our industry to afford to live locally.
"This is a critical issue that needs addressing if we want to sustain and grow our hospitality and tourism sector."
Tom also praised Harrogate International Festivals for its outstanding work in supporting the sector.
He acknowledged the organisation’s efforts in revolutionising the cultural landscape of North Yorkshire and the north of England.
"Harrogate International Festivals is doing fantastic work to uplift this sector, and their contributions are invaluable to ensuring that our hospitality and tourism sector remains vibrant and resilient."
However, Tom addressed the challenges the sector faces.
He pointed out the lack of a cohesive and coordinated tourism body for Yorkshire, following the collapse of the troubled ‘Welcome to Yorkshire’.
As a new member of the APPG for Hospitality and Tourism, Tom Gordon hopes to stand up for Harrogate and Knaresborough’s hospitality sector and ensuring that the industry receives the support it needs to thrive.
The chairman of North Yorkshire Council says the county is “standing side by side” with the Jewish community following an apparent anti-Semitic incident in London.
A Harrogate women's community group has officially launched its own dedicated app, designed not to increase screen time, but to encourage more face-to-face connection.
Pupils from Saltergate Schools in Harrogate are set to play at a Premier League stadium after securing a place in the national finals of a major schools football competition.
Furious North Yorkshire council chiefs have accused the region's mayor of "highways robbery" amid claims the county is losing £20m in funding to fix potholes and resurface roads.
A Harrogate woman has already raised £1,000 towards her fundraising goal for a breast cancer charity ahead of a 100km trek across the Great Wall of China.
Local food and drink producers are being given a valuable opportunity to showcase their products this spring, as Fodder in Harrogate announces a Yorkshire supplier open call night.
Tourism leaders in York and North Yorkshire have highlighted the scale and diversity of the region’s visitor economy following a visit from a national industry figure.