Parisian hoteliers are in low spirits. Some even speak of a “financial disaster” when barely 5% of the usual tourists at this time of year are present in the capital. Half of the professionals have closed their doors altogether, and do not plan to reopen them before the fall.
Particularly affected since the start of the health crisis, hoteliers are drinking the cup, as evidenced by the alarming results of the second quarter, published by the GNI-I + C observatory, which show the extent of the crisis and worry about the future of businesses and jobs.
Sales down 92%
For the months of April, May and June, the turnover of hotels, cafes and restaurants collapsed by 88% compared to the same period the previous year ... And, for hotels alone, it fell by 92%. "They are the ones who lose the most: between the closure of borders, the generalization of teleworking and the cancellation of trade fairs", underlines Franck Trouet, General Delegate of the GNI (National Group of Independent Hotels and Restaurants) Paris Ile-de-France . “The managers are working at a loss. Only, perhaps, the hoteliers who have several establishments do a little better, by bringing together all of their clients in one place. But it is not a miracle solution either… ”
Delphine Prigent is the illustration. The young woman, who manages two hotels on the left bank, the Signature Saint-Germain, rue Chomel and the Londres Eiffel, rue Augereau (7th arrondissement), has also tried to bring her customers together in the first. Before throwing in the towel, she who nevertheless says herself "naturally optimistic".
"2 or 3 rooms occupied on average out of 26"
“I had closed for lack of clientele and I finally reopened Signature Saint-Germain on May 25, all alone, without my nine employees who are kept on short-time work. I slept in the hotel, I did the housework, the breakfasts ... For a distressing result: 2 or 3 rooms occupied on average out of 26. Only once, I went up to 7, whereas usually, the filling rate is 95% during this period. And we are very dependent on American customers. "
Delphine Prigent, too, has finally resolved to close the Signature Tuesday, July 28 and will not reopen before the end of August. “It's impossible to work in these conditions: my turnover is zero, and the owners of the premises are not very flexible on the payment of rents… It would be good to show a little more solidarity. "
Even in the Gare de l'Est sector, which normally drains an uninterrupted flow of travelers, two hotels belonging to chains, popular with tourists, remain closed: the Holiday Inn announces that it is delighted "to welcome again soon its customers ”, but does not even give a reopening date. And not far from there, the Okko Hotel, recently inaugurated on the grounds of the Gare de l'Est, is also announcing that it will keep its doors closed until 23 August.
In the absence of foreign tourists, the Parisian palaces have taken the same measures, while professionals, worried about the dramatic turn of the situation, have launched a platform, called "Save your hotel", in order to lure customers, for a fee. promotions and good deals.
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This unprecedented economic crisis caused by the consequences of Covid-19, is of great concern to hoteliers, who see a wall of debt. According to the Observatory study, 82% of professionals surveyed fear a persistent decline in their activity over the coming months.
“And, during this time, charges and rents continue to be collected, while the receipts are non-existent, underlines Franck Trouet. The short-time working measures, scheduled until September 30, should at least be able to be extended until the end of the year, otherwise a maddening amount of jobs could be destroyed. "
