Hotel enforces ban on smoking

10:14am Monday 30th October 2006

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A TOP hotel is believed to be the first in York to enforce a complete ban on smoking throughout its premises.

The 99-bedroom Best Western Monkbar Hotel, in Monkgate, has brought in the ruling almost a full year before the new legislation banning smoking from all public places comes into force in England.

"The measure has been introduced very smoothly and generated a great deal of positive feedback , and not a single complaint. This augurs well for the wider York hotel industry..."

- June Nelsey

As part of its steps to stub it out, the hotel and business centre has also removed its cigarette vending machines.

Its managers believe they are the first in the city to outlaw smoking throughout its internal premises and say it has so far proved a popular move with customers.

"We are determined to promote smoke-free air to enhance the well-being of both our staff and our clients, and took the voluntary step of pre-empting the new laws," said hotel director June Nelsey.

"The measure has been introduced very smoothly and generated a great deal of positive feedback, and not a single complaint.

"This augurs well for the wider York hotel industry when the smoking ban becomes mandatory in summer next year.

"Our experience has been very positive. This can only serve to reassure those hoteliers - as well as owners of restaurants, cafes and shopping centres - who are anxious of what impact it may have on their business."

Rachel Johns, a director of public health for North Yorkshire and York Primary Care Trust, welcomed the move.

She said: "The reaction to the smoke-free policy at the Best Western Monkbar Hotel shows that people do want to be able to enjoy smoke free bars and restaurants. Even if you don't smoke yourself, breathing in other people's smoke can still have serious consequences for your health and puts you more at risk of heart disease, lung cancer and strokes.

"I'd encourage other firms to consider following the lead of the Best Western Monkbar Hotel and think about becoming smoke free ahead of next year's smoking ban."

The hotel is now finalising its bid to achieve a National Clean Air Award, an initiative run by the Roy Castle Lung Cancer Foundation.

Managers say latest research from Scotland, where a similar ban is already in place, has already pointed to improvements in people's health, particularly people working in bars. And, in a separate survey, pub landlords in England who have introduced a ban say their takings have soared by an average of some 50 per cent as a result.