INTERVIEW
What summer will the hotel and restaurant professionals live in the midst of a coronavirus crisis? If the gradual deconfinement is implemented from May 11, the hotel and restaurant sector has no guarantee on the resumption of its activity. Roland Héguy, president of the Union of hotel trades and industry (Umih), was on Europe 1, Wednesday, to give his testimony.
"It must be recognized that so far, we have not mastered the subject at all," began the president of the Umih humbly. However, this situation is "hardly tenable for our professionals who need a ray of hope, a horizon of recovery."
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"We can provide all the necessary health security"
Prime Minister Edouard Philippe, during his speech before the National Assembly on the details of the deconfinement of May 11, hinted that the recovery of the tourism sector could take place in early June. "From the end of May, following the evolution of the epidemic, we will be able to reopen," said Roland Héguy.
"We are ready. We can give all the health security necessary to all of our employees and our customers. Besides, we have presented a security protocol to the government so that it can validate it."
"Concept of profitability"
In this document appear all the measures put in place as soon as the establishments reopen in order to establish total health security. "In the kitchen, in the dining room, in the bedrooms, in reception ... we have anticipated all cases to protect our employees and our customers," said the president of Umih. And the same goes for customers, according to him, because the establishments will set up "social distancing, the distribution of gloves, masks ...".
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But even if health standards are followed to the letter, another question will arise, that of profitability. "If a restaurant usually accommodates 30 people and can only receive 15 this year, will it open in 2020? It is not sure because there comes the notion of profitability. We did a study, 15 to 20 % of our businesses will not reopen in 2020. "
Each additional week of containment has a very significant impact on the sector, hence the desire to reopen as quickly as possible. Provided that the reopening is not done at a loss ...