After Christmas with green meadows, even holiday guests have to do without snow at the turn of the year. Some still come to the region.
Bayrischzell/Schliersee – After a strong summer, Guido Lackner can be satisfied. The boss of the Osterhofen Alpenhof speaks of almost 100% occupancy even at Christmas and New Year’s. “Almost all the rooms are occupied.” It’s just a pity for the hotelier that all the snow has melted. “The guests already miss the wintry impression.” Many would come as skiers, Lackner says. But at least the systems still work, he doesn’t want to complain. The past year is still too present. “We were still closed at Christmas and could only take short-term bookings afterwards.” No one knew how the coronavirus restrictions would continue. This year, the use for the season is good: only a few would save on vacation.
Christian Huschka of the Hotel Karma Bavaria in Schliersee paints a similar picture. A dreaded wave of cancellations has not occurred. “But we’re just unlucky with the weather.” Guests are now asking for alternative offers such as wellness with an indoor pool or a New Year’s menu with show cooking and a chocolate fountain. “Guests book fairly normally and are not disappointed.” However, the program’s offerings are essential. The average occupancy rate at Karma Bavaria is 70 percent, was 80 percent since Christmas, and is now 95 percent. “If it’s not full, that’s fine,” says Hauschka.
“The belt is tighter for some guests”
Mathias Schrön, guest information manager at Schliersee, is certain: “If I couldn’t ski, it would be fatal.” Thanks to the open slopes in the vicinity, the hosts are mostly satisfied.
Meanwhile, Walter de Alwis warns that “some guests’ belts are tighter”. The owner of the Seehotel Schlierseer Hof says: “This year the worm is somehow in there.” Compared to the pre-Corona year 2019, when everything was fully booked on New Year’s Eve, there are still beds available at the turn of the year this year. Even regular guests who have long since become friends would prefer to celebrate at home this year.
De Alwis sees the reason for this in several factors. “Many fly abroad,” says the hotelier. Others are probably put off by the higher prices during the holidays. “In the current high season we have to offer at least half board, which means that the prices are automatically higher.” If you want to save costs, it’s better to come later.
New Year’s menu not fully booked
“I’m actually positive,” says de Alwis. But even he gets carried away by bad news. “People hear about Ukraine, gas and electricity prices on TV and then prefer to stay home on New Year’s Eve.” But the prospects for the four-star hotel on the Schliersee are not entirely bleak. After all, the owner has sold 100 seats for his New Year’s menu, the apartment building is full. When people come, they come in bigger groups. “But the lack of snow makes waiting even longer.”
Most vacationers in the restaurant business do not want to wait. The hosts feel no loss there. Operations proceed almost normally also in the Kleeblatt butcher’s shop.
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