Turnover growth hotels and restaurants for the first time in more than three years

• First volume growth since 3rd quarter 2007
• Highest growth recorded in hotel sector
• 2010 better year than 2009

In the fourth quarter of 2010, turnover in the sector hotels and restaurants showed a 3.7 percent increase on one year previously. Higher prices account for half of the turnover growth, the other half is due to volume growth. According to the latest figures released by Statistics Netherlands, this is the first volume growth since the third quarter of 2007.

All branches in the sector hotels and restaurants achieved better turnover results in the fourth quarter of 2010 than in the same period of 2009. Hotels again realised the most substantial growth in the fourth quarter. Turnover growth from one year previously was 9.3 percent.

After a long period of decline, restaurants also generated turnover growth in the fourth quarter (+ 1.4 percent). Restaurant prices increased 1.8 percent, volume shrank 0.4 percent.

The volume of sales over the entire year 2010 was 2.9 percent below the level the preceding year. In 2009, the volume of sales dropped dramatically by more than 7 percent. Prices were raised by 2 percent in 2010. Hence, loss of turnover was only 0.9 percent.