Chi cancellation: Lightning strike for Donaueschingen's hospitality industry in danger!

Chi cancellation: Lightning strike for Donaueschingen's hospitality industry in danger!

Donaueschingen, Deutschland - In Donaueschingen, the cancellation of the traditional event Chi strikes like a flash. Almost three weeks before the planned start, due to the inadequate quality of the participant field, the decision was made to cancel the event. What is a bitter blow for many fans already booked is also a massive problem for the local hospitality industry. Michael Preis, operator of the Hotel Grüner Baum and Dehoga district chairman, expresses concern: "We are standing in front of a wave of cancellation," reports the hotelier, who only found out about the cancellation on Wednesday morning, shortly before it was officially announced. The first cancellations were not long in coming.

The Chi is considered one of the top events that move international visitors to Donaueschingen. The Hotel Grüner Baum reserved the weekend from September 18 to 21, which means that family celebrations and weddings that should actually take place there had to be referred to other places. The effects on the hospitality industry are considerable, especially since the entire industry depends heavily on the short -term business. "We fully reached into the crowbar to plan for the event," said Prize. Now the industry is forced to look for solutions creatively to compensate for this setback.

cancellation wave due to uncertainty

But Donaueschingen is not the only place that suffers from the aftermath of these political and economic decisions. Similar patterns observe the hotel and gastronomy outside the area affected by flood. According to a flash survey by the DEHOGA North Rhine-Westphalia with around 200 participants, 54.4 percent of the respondents reported cancellations who appear due to floods, but often have no objective reason. "Even in regions such as the Münsterland, which are not affected, guests fail to materialize," explains Haakon Herbst, regional president of Dehoga NRW. This leads to a silent wave breaker in the industry, as around 90 percent of those surveyed state that they can provide the agreed services.

Against the background of Corona, the economic situation is already tense for many companies. An evaluation of Statista shows that the drop in sales in tourism from 2020 to 2021 were dramatic compared to 2019. It is not surprising that 47.6 percent of the companies do not see themselves acutely endangered by the cancellations, but 14.3 percent consider the situation threatening to exist. So what's next for the industry? More and more entrepreneurs appeal to their guests to find out about the actual situation on site before writing their travel plans in the wind.

The future of the hospitality industry

The crises are and were a big challenge for everyone in the industry. Based on the current developments, it becomes clear that flexibility and initiative are required. The hoteliers have to find paths to develop alternative events and offers. "We have to tackle and rethink to offer the same as the old wine in new hoses," recommends price with a view to the necessary adaptation to the circumstances.

The next few weeks and months will be crucial to boost the recovery of the hospitality industry in Donaueschingen and beyond. Hope rests on the good hands of the hoteliers, and that customers will soon be willing to spontaneously pack their suitcases and travel to the region.

For further information on the economic effects on the tourism industry, published by Statista, click on these Dehoga nrw In detail at Black Forest Bote .