As the pandemic recedes, so do the number of hotel closures. The resurgence of the pandemic, and government measures to deal with it, are leading many hoteliers to put their business on hold once again. This second wave of closures is certainly less severe than in springThis was the case at a time when a very large proportion of the French hotel industry had lowered its curtains, but the situation remains sensitive.
Whereas consulting firm MKG observed a hotel opening rate of 93 % in France at the beginning of October - but only 76 % in Paris - the dynamic has been reversed". two weeks after the announcement of the new restrictions" . This figure has fallen to 73 % nationallyThe opening rate is 76 % in the provinces and 74 % in Ile-de-France, while it is only 58 % in Paris.
" France's ten largest cities and the Île-de-France region are particularly hard hit by the crisis. lack of activityremarks Olivier Cohn, General Manager of Best Western France. As the current confinement is less strict than the first, business travel is still possible. However, with no major groups involved, the majority of business travel comes from French SMEs and VSEsThis activity is concentrated mainly in secondary towns and outlying areas. "
This territorial disparity is also felt by category. The vast majority of super-economy hotels remain open, supported in particular by continued activity in certain sectors such as construction and public works. On the other hand, according to figures published by MKG Consulting on the Hospitality On website, " the opening rates for the economy and mid-range segments fell by 23 and 22 points respectively (to 73 % and 69 %), while the opening rate for the top-end segment fell back below the 50 % threshold (45 %)" .
A bleak outlook
A lack of international customers, the use of teleworking, combined with a traditionally slow end to the year and the confinement effect: the outlook for the coming weeks is hardly encouraging for hotel occupancy. At the end of October, a survey carried out by the Logis chain of independent hotels among 500 of its members showed that only 56 % establishments remained open in novembre, "in particular to meet the needs of business customers "and that 18 %s were still under consideration.
For the Evok group, 'the show must go on' for its Parisian hotels Nolinski, Brach, Sinner and Cour des Vosges, but other establishments have made the opposite choice and announced at the beginning of November that they would be closing for a few weeks, notably the six Maisons Albar hotels in Paris, Nîmes and Porto and the Mama Shelter hotels in Paris East, Bordeaux, Lyon and Marseille. On the other hand, the Mama Paris WestLille and Toulouse remain always open to the public.
Faced with the costs of closing and reopening, Marriott hotels intend to keep their doors open during this period. expected shorter confinement than the first. For its part, the Accor group notes, without giving further details, a fall in the number of hotels opened, although its portfolio was active at 91 % on 22 October, the day on which the group published its quarterly results.
For its part, Best Western France noted the closure of 115 of the 300 hotels in its network. " It is difficult to forecast the number of additional closures in the coming weeks. Depending on activity over the next few days and the forthcoming government announcements, a number of hotels will be making their decisions.says Olivier Cohn. For non-seasonal hotels, the closure will be shorter, ranging from a few days for some to several weeks for those waiting for decontamination before considering reopening. A number of establishments have also opted for opening on weekdays and closed at weekends. "
Bankruptcies to be feared
However, with this new shutdown, the professional organisations fear that these temporary closures could turn into a permanent cessation of activity. According to a survey carried out by the GNC, the GNI, the UMIH and the SNRTC after the second lockdown, the coronavirus crisis could lead to the closure of two thirds of establishments in the hotel and catering sector. " The profession is facing an unprecedented crisis that will lead to an unprecedented number of bankruptcies and redundancies.s, warned the professional organisations. The State must come to the support of our professionals who are prevented from working and respond to their demands with measures that are as strong as they are indispensable and urgent. "
At the beginning of the month, the Logis Hôtels group announced that 76 % of the independent establishments in its network had cash flow that would not exceed the end of the yearOnly 5 %s are expected to last until summer 2021. Karim Soleilhavoup, Managing Director of Logis Hôtels, said: "While everyone understands the need to protect all French people, we are entering the winter of all dangers. A health hazard, of course, but also an economic one. "The return of good weather to the hotel industry is all the more eagerly awaited.
