Optimism on holiday front

Saturday 2nd May 2009, 3:00PM BST.

Steve Besant

ALMOST 100 vacancies for jobs in restaurants, hotels and cafés have been posted on the States website as traders start to gear up for what is hoped will be a busy summer.

Despite a slow start to trade this year, a rise in the number of holidaymakers booking trips to the Island means the industry is expecting a busy season.

And Islanders themselves are beginning to spend a little more on their summer events, according to Steve and Trudy Besant, the owners of nicheevent.com.

The couple are recruiting staff for the summer season to make sure that they have a full workforce for weddings and corporate events. ‘Business is picking up,’ said Mr Besant. ‘I think the season is going to be quite good now.’