Only 14 percent of restaurateurs expect more banquets – average transaction sinking; CHD Expert study about company christmas parties:
The saving trend in economy is starting to show in gastronomy: almost half of the restaurants in Germany are facing a decrease in company christmas parties this year. Merely 14 percent of restaurateurs have increased bookings for festive events. In the boom of 2007, around a third of professional hosts had anticipated additional revenue through christmas parties. Now, consolidation is being observed in banquet and event business. For nearly 40 percent of catering establishments, the number of company parties remains constant towards the end of the year. This is indicated by a study of the international market research institute CHD Expert, Scheeßel near Hamburg.
„The accouncement of numerous large enterprises wanting to save on special expenses like christmas parties, for example, is coming true“, analyses Thilo Lambracht, Chairman of CHD Expert / Marktplatz Hotel GmbH. „The number of restaurants with less christmas parties compared to the preceding year has nearly doubled.“
The gastronomy is facing a dismal close of the business year. After continuous drops in revenues this year, the cost cutting will spread to the number of participants and average expenses per christmas party. Over 43 percent of respondents count less participants per company event compared to the preceding year. Just under eight percent of restarateurs can greet more guests. „At least for around 49 percent of establishments the number of participants has stayed constant – a small ray of hope“, said Lambracht.
The average transaction per participant of christmas celebrations will be lower than last year for half of the restaurants. 41 percent expect a constant level of revenue, and only around nine percent hope to be able to bill slightly more per guest. „The average transaction in company christmas parties amounts to about 34 Euro and is thus in the medium range of the banquet business“, said Lambracht. Only about three percent of catering establishments can generate an average transaction of over 40 Euro per participant of company christmas parties. This portion will tend to decline – the economic prospects for the fiscal year 2009 are more than vague for both catering businesses and corporate clients.
For the survey, 233 select restaurants and hotel restaurants were inquired in November about their expectations for business with company christmas parties.
About CHD Expert / Marktplatz Hotel GmbH: The business branches range from market research over direct marketing to data management. The company philosophy is „Know it and do it!“ The company was founded 1997 as Marktplatz Hotel GmbH and since about seven years ago belongs to the internationally operating CHD Expert Group with branches in all economically significant European countries, as well as the USA and Canada. CHD Expert is part of the Preferred Partners of the German Hotel Association (IHA). Its clientele includes well-known companies in the fields of food & beverages, furnishing and media, amongst others. More at: www.chd-expert.de.
