Hungary’s most popular wellness hotels may close down in the heating season

Due to the rising energy prices, wellness hotels in Hungary are all facing difficulties. The gas bill is eight times higher than last year, while electricity is five to ten times more expensive, depending on the place.

Tamás Flesch, Honorary President of the Magyar Szállodák és Éttermek Szövetsége (Association of Hungarian Hotels and Restaurants), hopes for governmental aid. The association is trying to get state support together with VIMOSZ (National Association of Tourism and Hospitality Employers). Wellness hotels have to use heating or air conditioning, depending on the season. But with the skyrocketing energy prices, they have to pay eight times more than usual, reported Index.

“The wellness hotels are the ones in the most difficult situation, as they have to deal with the highest energy costs on a regional basis” – he said. The monthly energy bill of a 150-room wellness hotel used to be 10-12 million HUF (25,000 EUR) – this is now close to 100 million HUF (246,700 EUR). The situation reached the unmanageable stage said Tamás Flesch.

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Closing only the wellness departments would not be a solution. Most of these hotels’ visitors come specifically for those services. Most hotels with high gas and electricity consumption will likely have to fully close. For the time being, most of the hospitality establishments are still open, but in November and December, the troubling bills will arrive.

Many hotels plan to close only for two-three months, however, the workforce will face a harsh winter in that case. Although owners could save money at the expense of quality, that would further decrease the number of visitors. The solution for hotels would rather be a short-term closure during the months when demand is low anyway, says Tamás Flesch.

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Source: Index