While businesses of all descriptions have been seriously damaged in the course of the pandemic, there can be no doubt that the hospitality sector has been left in a particularly fraught position.
The covid crisis which began almost two years ago has placed thousands of jobs in jeopardy, with a range of outlets having already closed and many others facing growing doubts about their future.
There was enormous relief in the run-up to Christmas when Stormont ministers agreed a support package of £40m, designed to cover over 3,000 hospitality operations which were affected by public health guidelines.
The awards of between £10,000 and £20,000 were due to be based on the net annual value of the estimated rental figure of individual businesses, with payments to be delivered by the Land and Property Services division.
However, it quickly became clear that, while nightclubs, bars and restaurants were included in the scheme, hotels were not, even though their bookings during the crucial Christmas period had dropped dramatically.
Hotels, both large and small, are not only significant employers but have been part of the fabric of life in urban and rural districts for generations.
We reported yesterday on the pressures faced by the historic Londonderry Arms, which has been trading in Carnlough, Co Antrim for over 170 years and was once owned by Winston Churchill, and dozens of its counterparts are coping with similar experiences.
Doubts have been expressed about the level of consultation which preceded the announcement of the Stormont grants, and the concerns expressed by hoteliers need to be addressed as a matter of urgency.
It will be noted that theatres, which also depend heavily on the revenue generated during the festive season, are going through a related crisis, with a number of performances already having been entirely cancelled.
There is always a limit to the amount of resources available through the public purse but there will also be a realisation that a relatively modest extension of the Stormont scheme could bring major long term benefits.
No one can say when covid will finally fade away, but, when that happens, rebuilding our overall economy will become an absolute priority.
Our prospects will plainly be enhanced if existing structures which have proved their worth on a long term basis can be kept in place as we enter what will hopefully be a year of recovery in 2022.
