In contrast to the countryside in Austria, it is particularly difficult for city hotels to regain their footing. 16 percent of Vienna’s hostels have already had to close. Summer doesn’t bode well either.
Finally traveling again – this is the wish of many Austrians after two years of pandemic. The lodgings in Vienna also crave tourists. While 17.6 million overnight stays were recorded in 2019, the figure for the previous year was just under five million (see chart). In contrast to the other federal states and rural areas, the city hotel is also recovering much more slowly.
Tourism is also different
Vienna is different – also in tourism. This is also apparent from the figures published in February. While overnight stays nationwide have again reached more than 76 percent of their 2019 level, in Vienna it is only 43 percent. And the numbers are increasing very slowly. For some companies it is already too late.
16 percent of hotels in Vienna had to close
“A few small family businesses in particular could not survive,” said Dominic Schmid, head of the specialist group at the Vienna Chamber of Commerce. According to the Austrian Hotel Association, 16 percent of Viennese accommodations have already had to close. After all, eight out of ten bookings were lost during the pandemic.
Does it really get better in the summer?
“Owned businesses need 50 percent occupancy, those in lease need 75 percent — just to cover costs,” Schmid says. The hope lay in the summer. But it has also disappeared because of the war in Ukraine. Schmid: “It will be very difficult to break even.”
Phasing out part of the economic aid will not make things better. “Currently there are still credit guarantees and shorter working hours. The cancellation bonus can only be requested from January to March,” says the Chamber of Commerce. Nevertheless, the Viennese hoteliers are not giving up – the hope of better times lives on.
Source: Krone
I’m Wayne Wickman, a professional journalist and author for Today Times Live. My specialty is covering global news and current events, offering readers a unique perspective on the world’s most pressing issues. I’m passionate about storytelling and helping people stay informed on the goings-on of our planet.
