Spain’s hospitality industry hopes to end the year on a successful note A growth between 5% and 10% in turnover, next year sees a moderation in its results, not rising above 4% compared to 2023 data, as its activity shows signs of decreasing “hitting the ceiling.”
The hospitality sector reflects a record in employment data, according to research presented this Wednesday by the employers’ association. Maximum peak in July and August More than 1.9 million workers; inside the year’s average represents more than 90,000 employees above the previous year’s figures.
A positive 2023 but signs of weakness
2023 has been a year of recovery for the Spanish Hotel Management Association. The data, which is still provisional and maintained by the organisation, is encouraging optimism in the sector as average billings rose by 200,000 through October. 8.9% compared to the same period in 2022. This increase in turnover is mainly due to the “strong” growth that occurred in the first half of the year and then slowed down, resulting in a positive overall balance of the year. But the hospitality industry warns that the evolution of sales and operations is as follows: “hitting the ceiling.”
Moderating the pace for next year
Looking ahead to next year, accommodation activity will slow its growth rate and Increase between 2% and 4% Compared to 2023. In general, the development of employment, the impact of the increase in interest rates, the situation of political “instability” and the development of prices are as follows: “critical points” This may affect demand and business development in 2024.
Average spending is rising: 1,040 euros per person in 2022
If bills have increased for the industry, so have expenses for consumers. According to the latest data analyzed by the association in 2022, the average expenditure figure per capita in total, without distinction between communities, is 1,040 euros; because everyone has seen the average spending increase compared to 2021. This larger payment was accompanied by an increase. at prices: In 2022, they increased by an average of 6.4%. General CPI stood at 8.4%.
Neighborhood and rural bars are closing
The restoration has led to consecutive business closures for several years, but in 2022 the direction has changed and green figures have been recorded in terms of openings. However, during the presentation of the yearbook, Spanish Hospitality General Secretary Emilio Gallego warned: “Small bars continue to close” In the neighborhoods, surroundings and rural areas of the country. According to the report, in Spain it increased from 197,391 to 175,890 in ten years.
On the other hand, there are restaurants and cafes, types of businesses that have greater hiring capacity and larger sizes, and the number of businesses is growing and growing. They increased from 73,023 in 2021 to 83,879 last year year. Overall, there were 279,516 workplaces at the beginning of last year; This represents an annual increase of 1.9% compared to the beginning of the previous year.
Exception: No more bars in Extremadura
More restaurant businesses are recorded in the majority of communities, but some autonomy also exists. This was an exception to the data. These are Extremadura, where the figure did not increase and remained at 5,970, and Melilla, where the number of businesses decreased.
Billing increased by 4%
According to the yearbook, restaurant billings in 2022 with closed data increased by 4.3% to 90.701 million. In this sense, the report states that the improvement in results was due to higher sales volume, not to improvement in margins, and that the sector “It took a while for the effect to occur.” General increase in prices starting at the beginning of 2022.
worker plan
A total of 1,222,900 workers worked in the restoration throughout 2022. In detail, this number has decreased. both employees and freelancersAdditionally, the percentage of female employment in this sector increased compared to before the pandemic, from 51.9% in 2019 to 52.2% in 2022, that is, a total of 638,300 women.