The hospitality industry has had enough: we’re being sacrificed again!

After being open for just 2.5 weeks, nightclubs and late-night cafés must close their doors again with immediate effect. The rest of the hospitality industry is once again subject to a midnight closing time. Many hospitality business owners can no longer cope with the misery and are therefore (once again) furious.

The height of tokenism

Intensive care units being full and a looming shortage of beds turned out to be the reason behind all the measures we have had in our country over the past 1.5 years—until a few days ago. But the peak last week showed that almost only young people, between 18 and 25 years old, are infected. Although infections are increasing in this group, the ICU beds remain empty. Koninklijke Horeca Nederland (KHN) calls the new measures ‘the height of tokenism, in which the hospitality industry is once again being sacrificed.’

Furious

In an interview with hospitality trade magazine Misset Horeca, Shiva de Winter of Sociability Horeca Group says that her blood boiled when she heard about the measures. ‘Hospital admissions are low. That was the benchmark. Now suddenly it’s all about “prevention”. And if you do take measures, then involve everyone. Don’t target the hospitality industry again in such an unfair way.’

‘I’m afraid that this cabinet’s blinkers are causing tunnel vision and that the ministers didn’t go out onto the streets last night to listen to all the garden parties. Cabinet, pull your head out of the sand and let the hospitality industry earn its money honestly.’

Sacrificed again

Robèr Willemsen, chairman of KHN, also says that it is incomprehensible that the hospitality industry is repeatedly the sector that draws the short straw. ‘The hospitality industry is once again being sacrificed because we don’t want the Netherlands to be classified as code red, while there is nothing wrong from a healthcare perspective. Social pressure apparently outweighs the facts. It shouldn’t get any crazier! Urgency is needed and the truth must come out’, says Robèr.

Support

Social media is also flooded with reactions from people who completely agree with Shiva and Koninklijke Horeca Nederland. People describe the situation as sad and unfair and sympathise with the fact that the hospitality industry in the Netherlands is taking another hit. KHN will soon meet with the cabinet again to discuss possible financial compensation for the sector. To be continued…

Read also:

• Roll up your sleeves: this is how much beer we need to drink to save the hospitality industry
• Think carefully: why is it so difficult to find hospitality staff?
• 8 tips for being a great hospitality guest again later

Source: Misset Horeca