Mecklenburg-Western Pomerania: hospitality industry under pressure despite full order books

Despite the good number of bookings before the start of the high season, there are worry lines on the foreheads of the accommodation establishments in the north-east.

Mecklenburg-Western Pomerania: hospitality industry under pressure despite full order books

Despite the good number of bookings before the start of the high season, there are worry lines on the foreheads of the accommodation establishments in the north-east. The gastronomy is meanwhile struggling with the consequences of the pandemic despite the abolition of corona requirements.

Schwerin (dpa/mv) - The hospitality industry continues to see itself in a special situation before the start of the main season in Mecklenburg-Western Pomerania, despite the good booking situation. As Lars Schwarz, President of the Dehoga Hotel and Restaurant Association, explained, accommodation establishments in particular can only adjust their prices to a limited extent to the energy costs that have risen as a result of the war in Ukraine. This clouds the mood before the start of the summer holiday season in Germany.

In North Rhine-Westphalia, the summer holidays begin this weekend, which means that the highest-selling time for tourism in the north-east begins. The winter months must then be bridged with the profits of the coming months.

Overall, the booking figures look very good, especially on the coast and in the tourism strongholds, according to Schwarz. He assumes that the rooms will be fully booked in the high season, said Schwarz. The reason for the concerns that still exist in the hospitality industry is that a large proportion of the current overnight bookings concern large tour operators and regular guests who have booked well in advance. However, the prices at the time were significantly lower than would be necessary based on current energy prices one suffers from rising costs with almost the same income.

In contrast to the hotel industry, according to the Dehoga President, the sore points in gastronomy lie elsewhere. Where many tourists are to be expected, the business will probably work - also due to a thinned-out offer due to the pandemic. Inland, however, the number of guests is still far from the pre-corona level.

Overall, Schwarz sees his statements about the weddings of the corona pandemic - that gastronomy will change - as confirmed. Although the companies would not have lost that many skilled workers, there is currently a lack of temporary workers and side entrants, both in service and in the kitchens, who have reoriented themselves during the long closure times. According to the information, this leads to reduced menu cards, lower space capacities and restricted opening hours.