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MP Advocates for Extended Daylight Saving to Boost UK Hospitality Industry

Climate and Weather

daylight saving time, hospitality, outdoor dining, energy savings

Business Honor
28 October, 2024

Proposal aims to enhance evening light and support businesses amid ongoing energy challenges.

A Labour MP in the UK has been making some propositions about the UK daylight saving time and change it might have positively for the hospitality industry. Alex Mayer, an MP from Dunstable and Leighton Buzzard, wants to make it more pleasant for the outdoor diners by prolonging the period of daylight saving.

As the clocks went back to GMT recently, Mayer's proposal is to keep clocks one hour ahead in winter, maintaining lighter evenings and advancing to two hours ahead in spring. She said that this shift, also known as "Churchill Time," would energize the struggling hospitality sector, hit by the pandemic and growing energy costs.

It can be clearly seen that extended evening daylight hours may attract increased traffic into restaurants, bars, and entertainment places. Longer daylight hours will surely create additional daylight hours for businesses that have seen increased patronage with higher revenue during peak hours. Mayer believes that this idea supports local economies, but improves social experiences for communities.

Mayer also notes that the use of natural light saves energy, which is a concern for one in relation to climate change and past precedents. She states that precedents for using daylight saving measures were successfully used during both the World Wars to help save energy.

While some experts have been wary of the long days stretching out in terms of health concerns and sleep deprivation, there are many positive implications for the hotel and tourism industry. She argues that longer evenings will further boost outdoor activities and hosting parties, thus contributing towards the community spirit.

Mayer has written formally to the Secretary of State for Business and Skills to consider her proposals, which she feels would be a great boost for the hospitality sector during these uncertain times.