Mecklenburg-Western Pomerania: Hospitality in MV raises the alarm: "season essential for survival"

The summer holidays have started in other federal states.

Mecklenburg-Western Pomerania: Hospitality in MV raises the alarm: "season essential for survival"

The summer holidays have started in other federal states. It should get a little fuller in the north-east. But there are big concerns in the hospitality industry.

Rostock (dpa/mv) - The hospitality industry in Mecklenburg-Western Pomerania is sounding the alarm in view of rising prices and the threat of energy shortages. "It is really a vital season for us," said Lars Schwarz, President of the German Hotel and Restaurant Association Mecklenburg-Western Pomerania, the German Press Agency. "Never before has it been so important that the season works now."

Overall, he considers a recession to be significantly more likely than its absence. In addition to energy prices and a possible energy shortage, the consequences of the corona pandemic, staff shortages and inflation also played a role here. The hospitality industry will probably be one of the hardest hit again.

"We don't even know if we will have enough gas for our core business in autumn and winter." In addition, it is unclear whether the business will be feasible at all after the rise in energy prices. According to Schwarz, higher energy prices would also curb demand. "Where do you think the citizens save first?"

At the same time, the industry itself is affected by the general rise in prices. You are at the end of the value chain. Whether brewery, food trade, logistics or services - "all price increases come together here," said Schwarz. The companies would then have to see to what extent they can pass on these increases. In the case of long-term bookings, for example, this is not possible because the price has been fixed for a long time.

The industry association assumes that accommodation in the country has increased prices by at least ten percent on average compared to the previous year. However, a lot was invested during the corona pandemic, which makes it difficult to compare to the times before the crisis.