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

More recent figures are available on this topic. View the latest figures here.
© 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.

Turnover accommodation and food services (seasonally adjusted)
YearQuarterTurnover (2015=100)
2015Quarter 197.07
2015Quarter 299.49
2015Quarter 3100.33
2015Quarter 4102.77
2016Quarter 1103.61
2016Quarter 2104.18
2016Quarter 3108.19
2016Quarter 4108.31
2017Quarter 1110.54
2017Quarter 2112.58
2017Quarter 3113.93
2017Quarter 4115.5
2018Quarter 1117.82
2018Quarter 2120.8
2018Quarter 3121.08
2018Quarter 4123.52
2019Quarter 1122.61
2019Quarter 2125.01
2019Quarter 3125.75
2019Quarter 4128.1
2020Quarter 1109.7
2020Quarter 253.1
2020Quarter 3109.4
2020Quarter 461.3
2021Quarter 159
2021Quarter 281.4
2021Quarter 3125.3

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 accommodation and food services (seasonally adjusted), Q3 2021
 change (quarter-on-quarter % change)
Accommodation services (total)55.9
Hotels102.7
Other accommodation services9.3
Food and beverages services (total)52.8
Cafés89.8
Restaurants73.2
Canteens and catering39.7
Fast-food restaurants18.4

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.

Turnover accommodation and food services, Q3 2021
 Compared to Q3 2020Compared to Q3 2019
Accommodation and food services (total)14.90.1
Accommodation services (total)11.5-10.8
Hotels13.9-23.1
Other accommodation services8.116.6
Food and beverages services (total)16.24.8
Canteens and catering30.5-14.2
Restaurants17.810.4
Fast-food restaurants13.514
Cafés7.1-4.4