No Mozart week: hit for city hotels
business
After the cancellation of the Mozart Week two weeks ago, the economic damage for organizers, but also for city tourism, is enormous. In a transitional period that is otherwise difficult in terms of tourism, the Mozart Week is an important source of revenue.
Actually, the Mozart Week should have started on Thursday – on Mozart’s birthday. Around 30,000 guests from over 50 nations naturally come to Salzburg. This makes the internationally renowned music festival an important sales guarantee for the hotel industry and trade in a season that is otherwise difficult in terms of tourism.
Failure between ten and 15 million euros
It was also in the years without a Cov crisis, according to the head of tourism in the city of Salzburg, Bert Brugger. “The festival is in a dead time, at the end of January, and we can assume that 30,000-40,000 overnight stays will be achieved here and I’m over 300 euros per night. If I add the tickets to that, then in the event of a failure I’m quickly around 10 to 15 million.”
Cushioning by aid funds uncertain
In addition to the cases for retail and the hotel industry, the main victims are the organizers. The exact extent of the financial damage for the Mozarteum Foundation has not yet been determined – but a clear six-figure amount is expected. It is unclear whether the financial event protection umbrella of the federal government will take effect: Subsequently, on the basis of official recommendations, the implementation was waived, but the protective umbrella actually requires a ban on events. However, good talks are currently being held with sponsors, explained Rainer Heneis, Managing Director of the Mozarteum Foundation.
Organizers are also left with the costs
The situation is also difficult for the artists and event venues involved. Although there is good hope that there will still be funding or temporary compensation, the basis for discussion with the Mozarteum Foundation is also good, but in any case the costs will be kept, said Susanne Tiefenbacher, director of the Salzburg Marionette Theater. The costs of the ongoing theater operations only have to be covered for the time being without the income from the Mozart Week.
And the artists themselves are currently at least losing their fees, confirmed the managing director of the Camerata Salzburg, Andreas Bräunig. Because the many freelance artists find it difficult to find replacement engagements in the event of short-term cancellations.
No Mozart Week: blow to city tourism
After the cancellation of the Mozart Week two weeks ago, the economic damage for organizers, but also for city tourism, is enormous. In a transitional period that is otherwise difficult in terms of tourism, the Mozart Week is an important source of revenue.