The numbers are in. The US hospitality sector is bracing for a hiring frenzy ahead of the 2026 World Cup. Thousands of jobs. Hotels, restaurants, bars, event management. The usual suspects. But here is the twist. The UK hospitality industry is watching nervously. And demanding action.
Leaks from inside the Department for Work and Pensions suggest Whitehall has been caught flat-footed. Briefings from hospitality lobbyists are landing on desks in Westminster. Their message is blunt. If the government does not loosen visa rules, the UK will lose skilled workers to America. Waiters, chefs, hotel managers. The lot.
The numbers are stark. An industry insider tells me the US is expected to create over 100,000 temporary hospitality roles for the World Cup. The UK, meanwhile, is facing a staffing crisis of its own. Brexit did not help. Neither did the pandemic. The sector is down tens of thousands of workers compared to pre-2019 levels.
So what is the ask? A temporary hospitality visa. Fast-tracked. Similar to the Seasonal Worker visa but broader. The Home Office is, sources say, internally divided. The usual factions. The immigration hawks versus the economic pragmatists. The Chancellor is said to be leaning towards pragmatism. The PM is, as ever, weighing the mood of the 1922 Committee.
Backbench MPs on the right are already sharpening their knives. Calls of 'open borders' are being prepared. But the hospitality industry has a powerful ally. Tourism is a huge revenue earner. And the sector is warning of reputational damage if the UK cannot staff its own hotels during a global sporting event.
A source close to the Migration Advisory Committee tells me they have been asked to produce a rapid report. The timeline is tight. The World Cup is two years away. But in political terms, that is a lifetime. The next election could come before then. That adds a layer of complexity. No one wants to be seen as soft on migration just before a vote.
Yet the economic case is compelling. The UK hospitality sector contributed over £130 billion to the economy last year. It employs 2.5 million people. Without reform, that number could shrink. The US offer is tempting for workers. Higher wages, shorter contracts, the allure of a global event.
The Prime Minister's official spokesman was non-committal at today's briefing. 'We keep all policy under review,' was the line. But behind the scenes, the machinery is moving. The Home Office is modelling the impact. The Treasury is costing the visa fees. The Department for Culture, Media and Sport is coordinating with the FA.
One thing is clear. This is not going away. The hospitality industry is organised. They have the ear of key ministers. And they have the data. The question is whether the politics will allow it. Watch this space. The lobbyists are not giving up. And in Westminster, that usually means something is about to give.
