March 31, 2020 · Team HG
Whisky producer Johnnie Walker is launching a temporary wage fund of €500,000 for Dutch and Belgian hospitality staff and free online courses from the Diageo Bar Academy to support bars and hospitality businesses affected by the coronavirus crisis. The fund is part of a broader support package with which parent company Diageo aims to support hospitality entrepreneurs and employees.
€500,000 available for 1,000 staff members
A beautiful gesture from Jonnie Walker/Diageo that is making €500,000 available for this purpose for hospitality businesses and their staff members and providing free access to online courses from the Diageo Bar Academy. Terms and conditions of participation are available at: https://www.johnniewalker.com/nl-be/johnnie-walker-trade-pledge (registration opens on Wednesday, April 1, 2020 at 09:00).
Helping each other in difficult times
Johnnie Walker's actions follow a series of support measures that parent company Diageo has launched to help the hospitality industry through these difficult times. Dan Hamilton, Managing Director for Diageo Northern Europe, says: “200 years ago, when John Walker faced hard times following the death of his father, his rural Scottish community rallied around him.It is now, more than ever, of vital importance to help those who have been with us for years. What we are announcing today is a first step in our effort to support as many people in the industry as possible. We recognize that, during this unprecedented crisis, many people in Belgium and the Netherlands will face extreme economic difficulties, including in the hospitality sector. We are determined to ensure that we can look forward to a positive future together.
Take the free Diageo Bar Academy Training Course online!
Diageo also encourages bartenders and hospitality entrepreneurs to make use of the free online Diageo Bar Academy Training Course via diageobaracademy.com. The online course is now open to everyone and consists of modules such as 'training' and 'well-being'. The course components provide practical and supportive advice and can help you manage quiet periods.
In addition, Diageo is producing eight million bottles of hand sanitizer by donating two million liters of alcohol to production partners. In this way, Diageo aims to provide direct assistance to the healthcare sector. Finally, the company is committed to the initiative in the Netherlands. #helpthehospitalityindustry of Royal Hospitality Netherlands (KHN), a platform where consumers can buy gift vouchers online to support bars and restaurants.
Do you also have a temporary or adapted hospitality concept due to the corona crisis? Then report it to us at joris@horecagroningen.nl
