Erfurt (dpa/th) – The President of the Thuringian Hotel and Restaurant Association (Dehoga), Mark Kühnelt, expects limited opening times in the catering trade due to a lack of staff. Guests would have to get used to restaurants having shorter opening hours or more days off, he told the newspapers of the Funke media group in Thuringia (Saturday). There is a shortage of skilled workers in many areas, “with the hospitality industry being hit particularly hard”. The aim must be to achieve or maintain a high level with fewer staff.
Partially used service robots could only help to a limited extent because they could not replace the care and pampering of the guest, says Kühnelt. It is important that the employees in the industry are shown more appreciation than in the past.
According to the Dehoga President, 15 to 20 percent of the restaurants in Thuringia had to close during the corona pandemic. Especially in rural areas, the dying of pubs and inns continues. One reason for this is the lack of business successors.
In view of the drastically increased prices for food and energy, the Dehoga boss also expects prices to rise in the catering and hotel sectors. “The prices will rise – about 10 to 15 percent for overnight stays and food – the guest has to be prepared for that,” he said.
