Turnover in accommodation and food services almost back at pre-COVID level

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© Nikki van Toorn
In the third quarter of this year, turnover (seasonally adjusted) in the accommodation and food services sector rose by 53.6 percent relative to the previous quarter, as reported by Statistics Netherlands (CBS). The growth was primarily due to the further relaxation of the measures against the spread of coronavirus and due to an increase in the number of domestic holidays. Turnover in accommodation and food services almost returned to the level before the outbreak of the coronavirus crisis. Relative to Q3 2020, it increased by almost 15 percent.

Substantially more turnover for hotels, restaurants and cafés

In Q3 2021, the accommodation services sector, including hotels and holiday parks, achieved 55.9 percent more turnover than in Q2; hotels doubled their turnover. Other accommodation providers including holiday parks and camp sites also gained turnover in Q3, namely 9.3 percent. The large difference is due to the fact that hotels, in contrast to the holiday parks and camp sites, still suffered heavily from the coronavirus crisis in the second quarter.

The food and beverage outlets – including restaurants, cafés and fast food restaurants – achieved 52.8 percent more turnover in Q3 than in the previous quarter. Here, too, major differences are seen. Café turnover increased most sharply, by 89.8 percent; restaurants recorded 73.2 percent more turnover. Both benefited greatly from the further relaxation of measures. Turnover was up by 39.7 percent for canteens and catering establishments and by 18.4 percent for fast food restaurants (including snack bars and cafeterias).

Turnover in accommodation and food services back at level of two years previously

In Q3 2021, turnover in accommodation and food services was 14.9 percent up on the same quarter of 2020. All industry groups recorded growth. Compared to the third quarter of 2019, turnover was the same. This recovery can be attributed to restaurants, by far the largest industry within the accommodation and food services sector, fast food restaurants (including snack bars and cafeterias) and other accommodation providers (holiday parks and camp sites).

Although hotels recorded almost 14 percent more turnover in the third quarter than one year previously, they remained the furthest from pre-COVID levels of all industries in the accommodation and food services sector. Compared to the third quarter of 2019, turnover was still almost one-quarter lower. Holiday accommodation rental companies and camping sites recorded a turnover increase of 8.1 percent compared to Q3 2020 and 16.6 percent compared to Q3 2019.

At 30.5 percent, the year-on-year turnover increase for canteens and catering establishments was the largest of all industries in the third quarter. However, turnover was still more than 14 percent lower than in the same quarter two years previously. Restaurants achieved 17.8 percent more turnover than in Q3 2020. Relative to Q3 2019, turnover was 10.4 percent higher.

Fast food restaurants recorded a turnover increase of 13.5 percent year-on-year. Relative to Q3 2019, turnover was 14 percent higher. Finally, cafés turned over more than 7 percent more than in Q3 2020. However, their turnover was still 4.4 percent lower than two years previously.

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