DEHOGA Annual General Meeting in Wangen: Strong call to the gastronomy reform

DEHOGA Annual General Meeting in Wangen: Strong call to the gastronomy reform

The challenges with which the catering industry in the Ravensburg district is confronted, recently cleared at a summer festival of the Dehoga district. As part of the State Garden Show in Wangen im Allgäu, Max Haller, the chairman of the DEHOGA district office, used the opportunity to draw attention to both the difficulties and the opportunities of local gastronomy.

Around 750 companies under pressure

In the district of Ravensburg there are around 750 restaurants, of which around 320 are organized in the German Hotel and Restaurant Association (DEHOGA). Haller warned that many of these companies would die softly, in particular the rural inns that organize the events without the necessary permits under the pressure of volunteers. This means that the regular restaurants cannot keep up and thus the traditional hospitality industry is at risk.

The role of politics

Numerous political celebrities were invited to this summer festival, including the Ravensburger District Administrator Harald Sievers and representatives of the Bundestags and Landtag. In front of these guests, Haller expressed significant criticism of the existing political situation, which in his eyes does not meet the challenges of gastronomy. For example, he called for a review of the current closing times for beer gardens that are ended very early in Germany compared to other European countries.

Economic stress and shortage of skilled workers

Another topic that appealed to Haller was VAT. He described the current regulation as unacceptable, and his statements made it clear that gastronomy is increasingly under pressure in times of rising prices. He also emphasized the urgent need for qualified workers in the industry, pointing out that many restaurateurs are willing to hire migrants when the bureaucratic effort is reduced.

A new managing director for the DEHOGA

The meeting was also an opportunity to present the new managing director of the DEHOGA regional office Ravensburg: Andreas Bader, who has been in office since July 1st. The lawyer brings a breath of fresh air to the organization and looks forward to the new challenge with interest.

Honors for long-term members

As part of the event, honors for longstanding members who have received remarkable achievements in the catering trade were also made. Among other things, Franz Spehn and Alfons Locher were honored for 50 years of belonging to Dehoga.

The summer festival of the DEHOGA district office in Wangen was an important step to put the challenges of the catering in the district of Ravensburg into public consciousness and at the same time emphasize the importance of this industry for the local economy.

- Nag