Turnover accommodation and food services 1.8 percent up

For almost six consecutive years, turnover in the sector has increased each quarter. In 2018, turnover was up by 6.9 percent relative to 2017, the highest growth since 2001. The volume of sales rose by 3.9 percent in 2018.

Turnover growth for food and beverage services

In Q4, turnover generated by food and beverage services (including restaurants, fast-food restaurants, canteens, catering companies and cafés) rose by 1.7 percent relative to the previous quarter. The volume of sales increased by 1.4 percent.

Fast-food restaurants recorded the highest turnover growth (3.2 percent). Cafés, restaurants, canteens and catering companies also achieved turnover growth relative to the preceding quarter. However, the volume of sales by canteens and catering fell by 0.8 percent, the first decline in volume over the past two years.

Turnover accommodation services up for two years

Relative to Q3 2018, accommodation services realised a turnover growth of 1.9 percent in the subsequent quarter. As a result, turnover has risen for eight consecutive quarters. Prices slightly decreased, but the volume of sales increased by 2.8 percent.

Turnover generated by hotels grew by 2 percent and the volume by 2.3 percent. Hotels saw an increase in both Dutch and foreign guests at the end of 2018 year-on-year. Turnover generated by other accommodation services, such as holiday homes and campsites, grew by 1.7 percent relative to Q3.

Entrepreneurs positive

Business confidence in the sector accommodation and food services was positive at the start of Q1 2019 and slightly more favourable than one quarter previously. Staffing deficits declined slightly. At the start of Q1 2019, 28 percent of entrepreneurs in this sector reported they were facing impediments in their business operations as a result of understaffing. This percentage has increased rapidly since Q4 2016.

The shortage of suitable personnel is also evident from the 19 thousand outstanding vacancies in the sector accommodation and food services at the end of Q4. The number of bankruptcies in this sector in Q4 was higher than in Q4 2017.