In the majority of establishments, the hygiene measures and recommendations have been taken very seriously and applied with great care.
The majority of customers have done the same, with obligatory masks and distance between tables now appearing to be normal.
Many restaurant owners have expressed criticism towards authorities for not allowing them to open their terraces earlier. They also criticised the short timeframe between the announcement and the reopening itself.
A number of establishments were surprised by the last-minute decision and were not prepared to reopen in such a short space of time.
However, in general the sector has approved the measures taken in order to allow reopening, despite many establishments experiencing a loss of 15-35% compared to previous years due to a reduction in available tables, to allow for distancing measures.
Restaurants are experiencing a sharp rise in the prices of fresh produce and food, in some cases has increasing by 20%.
The increase has repercussions on several levels, including huge demand compared to the available supply.
This rise in food prices in restaurants will ultimately be paid for by consumers.
Unlike cafes and restaurants, hotels were not forced to close their doors during confinement.
Despite this, many hotels, such as the Parc Hôtel in Mondorf, have not welcomed any guests for the past ten weeks.
At the start of the pandemic, this hotel was selected as a potential treatment centre for patients.
After two good months in early 2020 with an occupancy rate of 70%, activities at the hotel ground to a halt in March. Now, the spa and fitness centre have been allowed to reopen, but the sauna and hammam spa must remain closed.
Other changes await guests at the buffet, where service is now provided by the staff.
In hotels, the virus has mainly had an impact on internal organisation, with additional staff required to ensure adequate cleaning and disinfection.
Report in Luxembourgish and French:
