The first month of catering closures due to the coronavirus is behind us and many catering companies have now switched to temporary or completely new catering concepts. In addition, various organizations are thinking about the new 1,5 meter society within the catering and event industry as long as there is no vaccine available to ward off the corona crisis. But is such a 1,5 meter catering industry feasible at all? Opinions are divided.
The first holidays are over
The traditionally long and busy Easter weekend is over, the period when the catering industry peaks and the spring season starts. With unprecedentedly beautiful weather, the terraces, hotel rooms and pubs remained empty this year, as did many campsites and holiday parks. Super natural that most Dutch people adhered to the rules, but a disaster for the catering, tourism and event industry. How should this proceed?
1,5 meters catering in practice
Large companies such as the Pathé cinema chain have already prepared their plans for when the catering lockdown is scaled down to a 1,5 meter catering industry. This principle may still be applicable to larger companies, although the number of guests will be so low that profitable business operations will be difficult. The costs of protecting employees with Plexiglas screens and all kinds of other options are not the biggest problem. But how are you going to divide a maximum of 100 guests over rooms and not let them come into contact with each other or come close to each other when, for example, visiting the toilet or buying a drink? Of course, this will not only apply to a cinema, but also to restaurants, event locations and all other catering establishments.
What now?
Wouter Verkerk, speaker, advisor and trend watcher in the field of hospitality and hospitality sums it up like this:
“Slowly the consciousness descends, this does not pass 1,2,3. We are far from done with the virus. If you have images and sound with a possible new reality, many people are rudely disturbed from the daydream that in a few weeks we will be living as well as before. That we can go to the pub again, to a concert or a busy restaurant. Or, what makes catering people happy: Being able to work wonderfully with colleagues and guests again. With guest contact!"
Walter Verkerk
Of course, a 1,5 meter catering industry is not possible for smaller catering companies and the absolute death blow for many entrepreneurs. Now that scientists, app developers and other organizations are thinking about new concepts and plans to shape the 1,5 meter society, it may be time for catering entrepreneurs to put their heads together and look to the new future.
What are you going to do? What are you doing? and what is your view on the whole? Perhaps there should be a pass system for healthy people? and is it useful, for example, to have all residents of the Netherlands tested for Corona? There are many questions and perhaps more possibilities than expected. We at Horecagroningen.nl will continue to provide you with the latest updates during the corona crisis and are happy to talk to you about the future of the catering industry.