EDITING |
The rise in prices, the increase in costs, and inflation have caused hotels to start abandoning the IMSERSO program.
There are no benefits; expenses exceed revenues, so the hotel sector is forced not to participate in the program, it is not worth it, they claim. 40% of hotels have abandoned the program.
The program has not been attractive for the hotel sector since the Government froze the rate at 22 euros per night instead of managing new contracts, considering the increase in energy costs.
The exception is found in Valencia, where its government will invest 5 million to help the hotel sector in the IMSERSO program, which represents 20% of the program's offer.
The Valencian hotel sector estimates that costs amount to €34 and not to the currently frozen rate of €22. They report a 25% increase in food and beverage prices, a 6% increase in personnel, and a 300% increase in energy, an expense that cannot be covered without government assistance or a renegotiation of contracts.
Since January 2022, before the energy crisis, the hotel sector was already having problems covering expenses, which were above revenues. Costs were already high, so only 59.93% of available places were executed.
The IMSERSO program not only provides assistance for the elderly but also allows the hotel sector to maintain activity in winter as well as the employees involved in the program, but due to the additional costs, the hotel sector has started to abandon the program, leading to job reductions, as it has become unsustainable.
