The travel association said the industry “needed to know what will be done, and by when” in order to ease financial pressures and rising energy bills, after Truss defeated Rishi Sunak in the Conservative leadership election on Monday (5 September).

Truss, who is due to be official appointed prime minister after meeting with the Queen on Tuesday, should consider capping energy rates for businesses, extending business rates support and offering “more headroom” with repayments of Covid business loans, Abta urged. 

“As it stands, members have no protection from rising bills – they are feeling the impact now, at a time when they are also still trying to recover from the worst two years in the industry’s history,” said Abta boss Mark Tanzer.

“It is particularly important this government takes account of the extreme pressure small- and medium-sized businesses are under. We’ve put many of these recommendations to the incoming prime minister already, ahead of their election, and will do so again in the coming days.”