Editorial: SOS, the industry is dying miserably

Dear Insiders,

In today's headlines, I have used ugly words: We are talking about sleights of hand, an industry crying for SOS, and about politics that is letting the industry die miserably. There are no polite words to describe the way the German government is treating the industry (and tourism).

Eight hotel groups finally vented their anger at a joint press conference convened at short notice yesterday. Dorint, Lindner, H-Hotels, Leonardo, Dormero, Centro, Althoff, and the GSH Group spilled the beans: Some of them are still waiting for the November/December aids, they have been fobbed off by mean lump sums, they are financially suffocated by caps or the addendum changes of the requirements are causing them to gasp for air.

Many politicians are no longer role models – and they no longer tell the truth. "They describe subsidies as gifts," says Rolf Seelige-Steinhoff, CEO of Seetel, furiously about the deception of the public. These are no gifts – the entrepreneurs are paying back everything.

In a separate interview, the tested businessman and figures analyst takes the financial aids apart, which are no aids at all. "These are sleights of hand," he tells the Bazooka Boy (Finance Minister) Olaf Scholz. And he enumerates how much the state still earns with every subsidy or loan. "Congratulations, three cheers for politics!" - We are putting this article in front of the paywall today, send it on to your colleagues and MPs!

13 months after the virus outbreak, Merkel still cannot offer any perspective to the industry; just the same way that she is unable to uphold her vaccination offers… She is only able to offer constantly new mutations, cancelled deliveries of vaccine doses, insufficient numbers of rapid tests, and finally there are these disobedient people…

Her yoyo lockdown game will continue well into July (thanks to the new, tightened Infection Protection Act, everything will become much easier soon); then, the politicians will drop everything, go on their holidays and only return shortly before the election in September… Did we forget something? The people? Or responsibility?

Those who survive the year 2021, will be happy again at the latest at the turn of the year 22/23, forecasts STR's Managing Director Robin Rossmann after the big Global Data Conference, in which I participated for the region of Europe. Currently, Europe ranks last in a comparison of the global recovery, however, it will stabilise much faster because of its domestic pillar in many countries – but this only affects the leisure segment. Rossmann stays positive.

Unfortunately, this is a corona edition again, in light of the current events. Anger and frustration in the German hotel industry and gastronomy are finally audible. As critical and questioning companion of the industry for 30 years now, I have to ask you, however and here: Why are you voicing your frustration now, that late? 13 months after the pandemic outbreak and 5 months prior to the political shutdown in Berlin?

Yours, Maria Pütz-Willems
editor-in-chief

Your opinion? maria[at]hospitalityInside.com