Alberta COVID-19 restrictions on restaurants set to ease
Posted Feb 28, 2022 3:56 pm.
Last Updated Feb 28, 2022 4:55 pm.
COVID restriction changes are set to take effect this Tuesday and have those working in the hospitality industry raring to go.
Alberta Hospitality Association President Ernie Tsu says being able to “operate as normal is so important for the industry right now.”
“Everybody in our industry is excited to be able to operate freely at 100 per cent again with no capacity restrictions, as well as no liquor curfews,” said Tsu.
Tsu explains these changes will mean that many industry staff will be able to pick up more work.
“Staff are excited to be able to get their full-time hours back, and for a lot of those neighbourhood pubs, live music venues, lounges that stay open till 2 a.m., now they’re complete, they’ll have full hours accessible for their staff,” said Tsu.
“So staff across the province are excited to get back to work and be able to make money again.”
As part of the second phase of Alberta’s COVID recovery plan, the province is lifting capacity limits on maximum indoor and outdoor social gatherings, as well as on dining. It is also scrapping capacity limits on large venues and entertainment venues.
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“Restauranteurs have been resilient throughout this whole process, the last couple years or so. Most of them were prepared for a contingency plan if stage 2 were to actually hit on March 1st, which it has, so you know restaurants are just gearing up to get back to normal business,” said Tsu.
“Were already starting to see it, I mean phone lines are starting to get much busier, with a lot of restaurants, and pubs and lounges across the province, especially for companies and functions looking for bookings again.”
Tsu said being able to book large parties of 50 to 100 is starting to become commonplace again, with the industry anticipating business ramping up in the coming weeks.
