Wiesbaden (dpa/lhe) - In view of the rising costs for electricity and gas, the Hessian hospitality industry expects dramatic consequences for the industry. The energy crisis is a "total catastrophe" and could threaten the company's existence, warned the general manager of the German Hotel and Restaurant Association (Dehoga) in Hesse, Julius Wagner, in an interview with the German Press Agency in Wiesbaden. "In contrast, the Corona crisis was a walk in the park." Around every sixth company has already received new advance bills for electricity - and is faced with a fourfold to tenfold increase. It's no better with gas.
He knows companies where the monthly electricity costs have skyrocketed from around 500 euros to 3,000 euros, reports Wagner. These additional expenses cannot be compensated for by rising prices for customers - because there is "not much room for improvement". Dehoga is demanding "speed and concrete action" from politicians with regard to the planned subsidies for energy costs for companies. "There is nothing reliable at the moment," criticized Wagner.
Looking ahead to autumn and winter, innkeepers and hoteliers were also worried about the uncertainties surrounding the Corona situation. This weighs "like a sword of Damocles over the companies," said Wagner. For example, it is completely open according to which parameters in Hesse a new mask requirement in the companies could threaten. This would be linked to an exception for newly vaccinated people - "but we have far too few staff for such a check," said Wagner. The lack of staff accompanies the industry “as the greatest challenge parallel” to the other crises.
The high inflation is currently not noticeable when private individuals visit restaurants - "there is a lot going on in the middle-class inns in the country," said Wagner. On the other hand, hotels in the cities in particular felt a reluctance on the part of companies to hold company events and business trips. "They step on the brakes," said Wagner. "Sometimes with a reference to Corona, or as a cost-cutting measure because of the high energy costs."
