If the local bar is “closed today” and the restaurant’s favorite dish “is no longer available”, this also has to do with the energy crisis. Restaurateurs are preparing for rising prices, a shortage of skilled labor and the energy crisis.
“Optimization is an ongoing task. But the economic pressure has increased, so much so that opening hours, menus or staff employment have been questioned, “said the spokesman for the Baden-Württemberg Association of Hotels and Restaurants, Daniel Ohl, from the German press from Stuttgart.
To save money during the energy crisis, Southwestern restaurateurs are thinning out their menus or leaving their doors closed more often.
The hospitality industry as an energy-intensive industry
Even before the crisis, the share of energy costs in sales was between five and ten percent, Ohl said. “Hospitality has always been an energy-intensive sector. There is cooking, cooling and heating. “
But not only rising energy prices, but also rising raw material prices and personnel costs are currently making economic work difficult. In September, for example, an inflation rate of 9.5 percent was offset by an average price increase in the hotel and restaurant sector of 7.1 percent.
Changed guest booking behavior
Additionally, reservations are currently made on significantly shorter notice than before. For example, bookings in the run-up to Christmas are below the level of the pre-Crown 2019 year. However, it cannot be concluded from this that Christmas deals will be negative, Ohl said. There was a similar initial situation in the summer, but in the end short-term sales had significantly improved the result.
Robust demand despite higher prices
Strong demand despite higher prices is encouraging, Ohl says. The experience in gastronomy or relaxation on vacation is obviously important for many people and they don’t want to give it up right now after losing it for a long time. In the long run, however, inflation could also have an impact here.
(DPA / THWA)
