BERLIN’S HOTELS STILL REPORT 15% OCCUPANCY AT MOST

4th week since reopening Berlin hotels and only 7 to 15% occupancy! “It’s so low that hoteliers are considering whether to open at all or leave the entire floor closed,” says Burkhard Kecker of “Berlin Tour.”

Tourism is very important to the German capital – a turnover of twelve billion per year, 250,000 dependent jobs. Due to Corona, the number of overnight stayers and visitors has decreased by 95%. In April, the pandemic almost completely halted tourism in Berlin and overnight stays and arrivals fell to 5% of the same month last year.

“Berlin’s life has been hit hardest by the crisis,” says economist Senator Ramona Popp. “We now have to move things faster. If the tourism industry is doing well, Berlin is doing well.”

According to Ramona Popp, the emergency assistance programs have helped “temporarily protect” about 50,000 jobs in the industry. The tourism board has launched an advertising campaign to attract German visitors. In southern Germany, 1,000 posters advertise a visit to Berlin. Even before the crisis, 60% were domestic tourists.

Moreover, the city tries to attract event planners. Before the crisis, 84% of events had less than 100 participants and were an important source of income.

The city also attracts domestic visitors with the “Berlin: Welcome Back” card. The new edition of the successful Berlin Ticket offers Berlin hotels on weekends plus activities at package prices.