Tuesday, August 11, 2020

Business Story

This morning, I watched a business segment on N-TV (commercial news in Germany)...concerning the business environment and how lousy the future looks.

The German Hotel and Restaurant Association went out and surveyed 7,200 hotels and restaurants in the county.  The statistical data coming back?  Right now because of the Covid-19 situation and past ban-rules....60 percent of the operations are in a barely surviving situation.

What keeps most going?  It comes down to three things: (1) tax-deferrals, (2) Corona aid from the state governments, and (3) short-work arrangements with the government paying the bulk of salaries for employees. 

The future?  No one says much.

In major tourist zones where you'd previously see Chinese, American, or Brit guests?  Those areas (like Heidelberg, Mainz, or Munich) are suffering.  Just in Mainz, you used to cross the bride heading into the city and observe cruise boats there almost daily.  Right now....none.

What they need is a return to normalcy.  But there's zero chance that this will return in 2020 or 2021. 

No comments: