Hotels feel pinch while restaurants fare better as holiday parties take place
The pandemic has resulted in recommended small gathering sizes, allowing restaurants to keep up business while hotels face empty event spaces.
The holiays are right around the corner, with many city workplaces planning parties in hotels, restaurants and other establishments in the hospitality sector. But the presence of COVID-19 is once again expected to cut into the bottom line for many social venues.
“People are being very socially conscious about what is that they can and are needed to do in terms of following the regulations and protocols that are in place,” said Jim Kilkenny, general manager of Delta Regina. “So, while we’ve seen a few large functions, definitely what we are seeing is a trend to smaller functions in terms being able to practice social distancing and following all the protocols and whatnot.”
The hotel industry was especially hard-hit, with many reservations for Christmas events made in the summer, cancelled during the rising cases in the fall.
“So, all of the enthusiasm that we saw this summer for all the new Christmas party bookings, we saw 75 per cent of them being cancelled,” said Ryan Urzada, chief experience officer for The Atlas Hotel. “So, it’s basically up and down like a yoyo, sort of feast and famine, and no certainty and no predictability these days.”
The general move to smaller gatherings and minimized holiday celebrations haven’t hit restaurants the same way as hotels, allowing for a sense of normalcy to return according to Bar and Marketing Manager for Bushwakker Brew Pub Grant Frew.
“I think overall, compared to last year, we’re very thankful to be in the position that we’re in,” he said. “It definitely is a good holiday season; lunches are longer, people are sticking around longer. But overall, it’s been quite good, quite encouraging, the staff are happy. It kind of feels like old times.”
As for the threat of Omicron, Frew says their patrons don’t seem to be overly worried about the new variant and are ready to weather the potential storm.
“But at this point in time, everybody seems to pretty calm cool and collected,” he said. “You know they’re vaccinated already and I think there’s a feeling of confidence that they’ll be able to weather this wave, just as they did the previous ones and I’m sure there will be more waves to come.”
CTVNews.ca Top Stories
Canadian gov't proposes new foreign influence registry as part of wide-spanning new bill
Prime Minister Justin Trudeau's government is proposing a suite of new measures and law changes aimed at countering foreign interference in Canada, amid extensive scrutiny over past meddling attempts and an ever-evolving threat landscape.
Boeing Starliner capsule's first crewed test flight postponed
The long-awaited first crewed test flight of Boeing's new Starliner space capsule was called off for at least 24 hours over a technical issue that launch teams were unable to resolve in time for the planned Monday night lift-off.
Teacher charged in historical sexual assault of Calgary teenage girl
Calgary police have charged a teacher with the alleged sexual assault of a teenage girl more than 20 years ago.
Winnipeg man admits to killing four women, argues he's not criminally responsible
Defence lawyers of Jeremy Skibicki have admitted in court the accused killed four Indigenous women, but argues he is not criminally responsible for the deaths by way of mental disorder – this latest development has triggered a judge-alone trial rather than a jury trial.
Man banned from owning animals after fatal Calgary dog attack
The owner of three Calgary dogs that got loose and mauled a woman to death in 2022 has been ordered to pay a $15,000 fine within one year and banned from owning any animal for 15 years.
East-end Ottawa family dealing with massive rat infestation
Residents in Ottawa’s Elmridge Gardens complex are dealing with a rat infestation that just won’t go away. Now, after doing everything they can to try to fix the issue, they are pleading with the city to step in and help.
Mediterranean staple may lower your risk of death from dementia, study finds
A daily spoonful of olive oil could lower your risk of dying from dementia, according to a new study by Harvard scientists.
An El Nino-less summer is coming. Here's what that could mean for Canada
As Canadians brace themselves for summer temperatures, forecasters say a weakening El Nino cycle doesn’t mean relief from the heat.
Newfoundland and Labrador latest province to tighten rules on Airbnbs
Newfoundland and Labrador is the latest jurisdiction to bring in stricter rules for short-term rentals, with a coming set of regulations that will force operators to register with the provincial government.