The corona virus has hit entrepreneurs worldwide hard. Skåne is no exception. Here, bankruptcies have increased by 34 percent during the first six months of the year, compared with the same period last year. It is higher than the national level, which is 18 percent, shows a report from the credit information company Syna.
Henrik Holmqvist, CEO of The Lodge hotel on Romeleåsen, is one of the entrepreneurs who was hit hard by the pandemic.
- It was now that we would take the next step. Instead, it was just the elevator straight down into the basement.
The Danes canceledThe travel and hospitality industry is one of the industries where the pandemic has been particularly noticeable, as it lost large parts of its customer base.
- Almost half of our guests were Danes, and they canceled immediately. Then all major companies canceled. It took 10 to 14 days before we made the decision, then we put ourselves in bankruptcy, says Henrik Holmqvist.
A total of 567 limited companies have gone bankrupt in Skåne County since the new year. The figure was 424 companies during the same period last year.
Despite many bankruptcies in the spring, the curve is now beginning to approach normal levels, both at national level and in Skåne, according to Syna's report.
- It is an overall increase, but many believe that it is worse off with bankruptcies than it actually is, says Harald Stjerna, chairman of the board at Syna.
And the light in the darkness is also noticeable for The Lodge. With the help of a new investor, the hotel will soon reopen with two new owners.
Henrik Holmqvist and his brother, who previously owned The Lodge together, may remain in their work roles. Likewise, the former employees get their jobs back.
- We will be more careful, try to build up buffers and have reserves. We are of course very nervous that there will be a second wave of corona, says Henrik Holmqvist.