The hotel and catering industry takes stock of a moderate summer with a 5% increase in turnover

Hostelería de España takes stock of the summer. In general, the employers’ association considers the season to have been a good one. Especially in terms of visits, with a large influx of tourists, which has favoured an increase in turnover compared to the previous year.

This is the result of the survey of hotel and catering business owners, according to which, for 41.7% of hoteliers, the season has been better than the previous year, for 28.3% the same, while 30% say it has been worse than in the summer months of 2022. This last perception extends across many regions of the national map, from Madrid to Andalusia, where they consider that successive heat waves have discouraged consumption.

In addition, more than half of those surveyed by Hostelería de España have noted an increase in visits (51.2%), although slightly more than this percentage of hoteliers have observed a decrease in spending (55.6%).

In the months of July and August the growth in turnover has moderated.

In general, the month of August performed better than July, with a greater influx of visitors, although in both months there was a containment of consumption, as well as a reduction in the average length of stay. According to the origin of the clients, 42.3% saw an increase in the number of national tourists, and half of those surveyed saw an increase in the number of foreign tourists, although the expenditure of the latter was higher.

The summer season began with an increase in the hotel and catering business turnover of 9.8% in June compared to the previous year. This was expected to continue in the following months. However, mainly due to the drop in consumption, in July and August the growth in turnover has moderated. Specifically, the increase was 5% above that achieved in 2022, compared to the 10% expected by Hostelería de España. However, it should be borne in mind that these months were already very good.

In this sense, turnover was up to 5% higher than in the previous year for 23.5% of those surveyed. For 20.2% the increase was up to 10%, while for 21% it was the same. On the other hand, 19.2% suffered a fall of up to 5%, and 16.1% between 5 and 10%.

The greater containment of expenditure is particularly noticeable in the case of the regular client and the national tourist, while the expenditure of foreigners has increased, which in July alone spent 7.6% more on accommodation and 19.9% more on food and drink than in the same month of the previous year.
same month of the previous year.

Islands, Galicia and the Mediterranean coast concentrated the highest turnover.

This general evolution is the result of a performance that has been different according to geographical areas. Initial expectations of 10% were met in most areas of the Mediterranean coast, Galicia and the islands. On the other hand, in the inland regions it has remained practically similar to the previous year, and in the north it has been somewhat worse, due to the fact that the previous year’s results were already very good.

With regard to the type of establishments, restaurants showed the best performance. Night-time leisure reduced its activity, due to changes in the summer season with more outdoor parties and festivals, and the greater proliferation of terraces, resulting in a change in the behaviour of users.

Six out of ten hoteliers have had difficulties in recruiting new staff

With regard to employment, as is usual in July and August, the rate of growth compared to previous months has been slower, as the high season for the sector usually begins with Easter, when the highest volume of hiring takes place, reaching a record figure of more than 1.9 million workers in the summer months.

Despite this, 63.2% of hoteliers have had difficulties in finding workers this summer, a problem which, together with the high costs, especially for food and beverages, has led to a drop in the profitability of the businesses.

Spending tendency to contain in the last quarter of the year.

The Spanish Hotel and Catering Industry forecasts for the last quarter of the year show signs of weakness. Mainly due to the containment in spending, which has been shown during the summer and will be accentuated from September onwards due to the decrease in the saving capacity of families. This means a slowdown in the growth of turnover, which has already been evident for months, going from double-digit increases at the beginning of the year to single digits since May.

By the end of the year, a drop of up to 5% compared to the previous year is expected, taking into account that the same months of 2022 showed a very good performance, with a recovery of the figures for 2019. In this sense, 41.6% of hoteliers think that they will bill up to 5% less in the last quarter, and 14.5% think that their turnover could even fall by up to 10%. For 24.7%, turnover will be the same as the previous year, while nearly 20% are confident that it will be higher.

In addition to this, there is a trend towards a change of model towards a more qualitative tourism. The sector is trying to offer better services, driven by the decline of consumers with lower disposable income. A loss that will be compensated by those with higher purchasing power, both by national and foreign customers.