March 2, 2018 · Team HG
Turnover for hotels, restaurants, and cafes increased by 0.5 percent in the fourth quarter of 2017 compared to the previous quarter. Overall, the hospitality sector generated 7.4 percent more turnover last year than in 2016. This is evident from figures published by Statistics Netherlands (CBS) today, February 28.
In addition to the quarterly figures for the hospitality sector, Statistics Netherlands (CBS) also released the annual figures for 2017. These show that the volume of turnover (how often people go out for food and drinks or stay overnight in a hotel) increased by 4.9% due to an increase in tourism and a rising number of purchases by Dutch people.
Robèr Willemsen, Chairman of KHN: “Over the past few years, we have seen positive figures in the hospitality sector every quarter. Many of our members have welcomed more guests and seen their revenue grow. That is good news. But we must also be realistic, because the number of hospitality businesses is increasing as well. And the costs of hospitality businesses have risen sharply recently, partly due to the high commissions that search, booking, and delivery platforms such as Booking.com and Thuisbezorgd.nl charge for their services. As a result, margins and profits are under pressure for many hospitality businesses. In addition, we must take into account that growth is leveling off. In short: it is great that there are positive figures, but let’s keep both feet on the ground.”
Last year, 1,765 hospitality businesses were added to the total hospitality sector. Half of these are traditional hospitality businesses: hotels, restaurants, cafes, and fast-food establishments. The other half are canteens and catering companies, but Statistics Netherlands (CBS) also includes independent cooks and waiters, and restaurants that exclusively offer delivery in this category.
In the last quarter of 2017, tourism grew by 8.2%. The strongest growth came from foreign guests: no less than 12.6% more tourists stayed in the Netherlands compared to the same period a year earlier. Compared to the same period, hotel revenue grew by 10.1%.
In 2017, people ate out more often than in 2016. The number of items sold in restaurants grew by 4.3%. In the fourth quarter of 2017, restaurant revenue grew by 6.5% compared to the same quarter a year earlier.
In snack bars, lunchrooms, ice cream parlors, and delivery restaurants, customer numbers grew by 4.4% compared to the same period a year earlier. Revenue in this sector grew by 7.1%.
Compared to the same quarter a year earlier, turnover at cafés and coffee bars increased by 3.1%. The number of consumptions grew by 1.7%.
