Many cancellations at the turn of the year: Corona spoils the holiday business for hosts

Created: 01/05/2022, 12:00 PM

From: Christina Jachert-Maier

Steffi Erlacher's guest beds are not in as much demand as usual due to Corona. © Thomas Plettenberg

Around the turn of the year there are usually no free beds in the Tegernsee Valley.

But this time there was no big rush.

Tegernsee

- The main season is between Christmas and Epiphany, while the rest of the winter time in the valley is traditionally quiet.

But this time there was no big rush.

"It was far from what you would have expected," explains Christian Kausch, Managing Director of Tegernseer Tal Tourismus GmbH (TTT).

The TTT is just evaluating the number of overnight stays around the holidays in detail, but a clear trend can already be seen.

Compared to 2019, the last year before Corona, the number of overnight stays on the Advent weekends has decreased by around half.

This number also proves the pulling power of the Advent markets, notes Kausch.

They could not take place due to Corona in 2020 and 2021.

Small upswing on the holidays

Things went better around Christmas and the New Year.

“But not good either,” says Kausch.

The TTT received very different feedback from hosts.

For some things went really well, others had a lot of cancellations.

Whether it was due to Corona or the bad weather cannot be said exactly, says Kausch.

In general, the bookings come at shorter notice than before, although the snow conditions play a role.

The pandemic was certainly a major contributor to the decline.

Including the Christmas days, it is around 40 percent in December.

However, more precise figures would only be determined.

Canceled bookings

The fact that the corona regulations on New Year's Eve were looser than initially assumed did not help the hosts much, explains Kausch: The order came too late to save New Year's Eve. “That could no longer be planned.” Previously canceled bookings were not made again. In addition, innkeepers need time to procure the goods they need.

Steffi Erlacher, Vice-Chair of the Bad Wiessee Health Resort and Tourist Association, also reports on cancellations.

“But it didn't hit us as badly as other regions,” says the operator of the Moarhof with holiday apartments and guest rooms.

The holiday apartments were in demand despite Corona.

“You are more of a private person,” says Erlacher.

The situation with the guest rooms looks worse.

While holiday apartments are available all year round at the Moarhof, Erlacher's guest rooms will only be available again from December 26th after a break after the end of the season.

But this time the demand is so low that Erlacher will close her guest room business for another three weeks from next Sunday: "It's just not worth it for two or three people."

Second residents improve the balance sheet

When it comes to renting out holiday apartments, her colleague in Rottach, Josef Bogner, chairman of the local tourist office, has had the same experience in his own company.

There was no booking for New Year's Eve - a novelty.

Things looked completely different in the Bogner family's inn, in the Voitlhof.

The only problem there was the lack of staff.

Business flourished, there was no loss.

“What saves us, are the second residents,” says Bogner.

They are always at Tegernsee around Christmas time, well-heeled families who often go out to eat and do a lot of shopping.

Bogner knows there is a lot of ranting about second homes: “But there are two sides.” In this phase of the pandemic, they are a godsend.

Overall, according to Bogner, people in the Tegernsee Valley complain at a high level: "In other regions it looks much worse."

Landlords in the entire district had to contend with cancellations.