Despite easing: hosts continue to worry about their existence

Corona restrictions in the catering and hotel industry in Bavaria have been relaxed for weeks. But that does not mean a rush of visitors at the same time - the hosts and hotel owners in the district feel this painfully.

Landkreis - "The last few weeks have been shitty, to be honest," says Jürgen Hellgermann, who runs the Hotel Schrenkhof in Unterhaching. Usually the 75 rooms are always booked. However, only 13 of them are currently occupied. "There are guests from Hamburg and Berlin," says Hellgermann. "And of course a few craftsmen."

However, the current situation cannot be compared with the situation in front of Corona. Hellgermann especially feels the canceled Oktoberfest and the lack of trade fairs. Business trips do not take place, guests stay away. "I don't think operations will start again before January," he admits openly. A temporary closure is not an option for him. "I live here, so I work in the hotel every day anyway," says Hellgermann. However, he can draw something positive from the corona crisis: since the hotel has reopened, he has been sitting at the table with his guests in the evenings - for ratcheting. "I didn't do that before, so I didn't have the time," says Hellgermann. But that is the only advantage of the pandemic.

Dehoga President Inselkammer: "The guests are very reserved"

"The guests are still very reserved," says Angela Inselkammer from Aying, President of the Bavarian Hotel and Restaurant Association Dehoga. However, the situation in the Munich district is even better than in the state capital. "Nothing works there," says Inselkammer.

Hardly to get lost sales

Stefanie Leimböck, the landlady of the country inn and hotel Alter Wirt in Unterschleissheim, also feels the effects of the lockdown every day. "The main business doesn't really start until March," she says. Because the old landlord lives from events. Communions, confirmations, weddings, birthday parties - all canceled. "We can no longer get that in, unfortunately," says Leimböck, who has been running the country inn for 24 years. The hotel business is also rather moderate. The majority of the ten rooms, which are normally rented to business travelers, are empty. "No trade fairs, that means no bookings," says Leimböck. Nevertheless, she wants the isolated guests to feel comfortable. "You have to be in good spirits," she says. Closing is currently out of the question for the landlady - neither the hotel nor the restaurant. "Of course I thought about it, but it's too early for that," says Leimböck.

Landlady: "Many people are still afraid"

The landlady is currently doing most of the work alone. Your five permanent employees are only on site for a few hours. "Otherwise I couldn't afford it," she says. The emergency aid was just a drop in the bucket. Although the beer garden has been open for almost four weeks, only a few guests find their way to the old inn. "I think that many people are still afraid," says Leimböck. But the weather has not been on the side of the hosts in the past few days either. Around 30 percent of the seats are occupied. "There's still room for improvement," says Leimböck.

Söder announces further easing

What worries you most is the uncertainty of how to proceed. The demand for events is increasing. A couple would like to get married in August. "But my hands are tied," says Leimböck. Thomas Geppert, Managing Director of Dehoga, would also like more clarity. "Tourism requires predictability and lead times," he writes in a press release. It was time to allow celebrations and events and to once again offer a worthy setting for weddings and funerals. Prime Minister Markus Söder complied with the request on Tuesday. In a press conference, he announced further easing. Among other things, that celebrations, such as weddings or communion, can take place again with up to 50 people indoors and with up to 100 people outdoors. It remains to be seen, however, whether people will take the opportunity or are still unsettled.