It takes a good deal of confidence to open a hotel in the middle of the pandemic that primarily caters to business travellers, conference and congress guests.
There is no doubt that the road to normality is still a long way for this industry, but the prospects are good.
Business travelers like to trust in the reliability of the big hotel brands, and short distances are attractive for the guest in every big city.
The location for the youngest intercity hotel right next to the main train station was therefore well chosen, and that also applies to the competition that will start in Wiesbaden in the coming weeks and months.
Personal contact cannot be substituted
For the opening of its almost 200 million euro congress center in spring 2018, the state capital commissioned a hotel needs analysis. Now of all times, now that the needs analyzed and identified at the time have been satisfied, the congress center and hotels are largely empty.
Just two years ago, the prospects for the hotel industry were downright rosy given that the convention center was almost fully booked. Now they are uncertain. But the city is hopeful because, among other things, the signals from the medical congresses that are so important for Wiesbaden point to the return of conference guests soon.
The pandemic has taught us that a lot can be discussed online in video conferences. But it also made it clear that personal contact, especially before and after the official dates, cannot be replaced. After the pandemic, many conversation partners will want to look each other directly in the eye instead of blinking into the video camera. The state capital is prepared.
Especially in the category of three and four-star hotels, Wiesbaden is foreseeably very well positioned.
The fact that almost all hotel projects in Wiesbaden are currently being completed later than originally planned was foreseeable given the effects of the pandemic.
But that's not a broken leg because of the currently difficult situation.
However, it is unclear how the catering trade will look after the pandemic and the end of state aid.
A good restaurant is no less important for the congress participant after a hard day's work than a comfortable bed.