Restaurant owners can practically breathe a sigh of relief: the 2022 holiday season will be almost normal because it seems that there will be no constraints in terms of sanitary measures. As a result, office parties and family celebrations can take place as in the good old days in their establishment. But inflation and the recession that is just around the corner leave a dark cloud over their heads. Will families still want to spend?
The return of normal traffic would do the greatest good after two very difficult years for the restaurant industry due to all the health restrictions related to the COVID pandemic.
However, other factors worry restaurateurs and they doubt that they will be able to find traffic at the same level as before the pandemic. Due to rising food prices and interest rates, families are seeing their budgets explode. The word “recession” has also been popping up in conversations for a few weeks now, which could curb these families’ ideas of going out.
So far at least, there are requests for reservations and in some places they seem to want to return to a normal level. Above all, people are planning their holiday party earlier than usual, which leaves plenty of time for restaurateurs to plan purchases and schedules for the coming weeks.
They do not hide it, a good holiday season would help them pay these bills which increase at the same time as the cost of food as well as the debts contracted during the pandemic.
Peak hour
In fact, a recent article in the New York Times mentioned that the rush hour in the city's restaurants was much earlier than before, that is to say that the peak period for supper had passed from 8 p.m. at around 6 p.m. Quite a turnaround!
The same has been noticed in Quebec, according to online booking apps. The most popular time slots are now 6 p.m. and 6:30 p.m.
I think this is very interesting information to know when the time comes to plan an outing with your lover or even with friends!
