The Victorian Chamber of Commerce has launched the #ValentinesDaydoover campaign for couples to celebrate Valentine’s Day – properly – two weeks later, on 28 February to provide a much-needed boost for hospitality venues and florists blindsided by the sudden circuit breaker lockdown.
Businesses have once again felt the blow of the third lockdown in Victoria, with the chamber reporting losses of $100 million for restaurants and $36 million for florists.
“Victorian businesses in the hospitality, events and floristry sectors have been left heartbroken on what is meant to be the most romantic day of the year, and their most profitable,” says Victorian Chamber of Commerce and Chief Executive Paul Guerra.
“We all want our favourite restaurants, cafés, venues, and florists to be around for next year’s Valentine’s Day and ‘they can just do take-away’ really isn’t going to cut it. The best thing we can do for these businesses is to boost their revenue which is why the Victorian Chamber is proposing that we reschedule Valentine’s Day for two weeks later, on 28 February this year.”
Victorians participating in the campaign are encouraged to show their support by sharing their 28 February Valentine’s Day booking or experience on their social channels with #ValentinesDaydoover and tagging their restaurant, cafés, bar, florist, or shop.
“We are encouraging all Victorians to reschedule their original plans for 28 February to provide hope and support for our hardest hit sectors which are once again paying the cost for failures in our state’s hotel quarantine and contact tracing systems,” Paul says.
