Andorra hotels report uneven Immaculate Conception weekend and staffing shortfalls
UHA director says central parishes saw strong occupancy while areas near ski resorts were weaker; the new Entry/Exit System disrupted seasonal.
Key Points
- Stronger occupancy in central parishes, weaker demand near ski areas; more city tourists than skiers observed.
- Entry/Exit System hindered seasonal hiring, causing shortages and replacement of experienced staff.
- UHA will run a final survey and await lift-pass and on-slope data before drawing firm conclusions.
- Industry priority is stabilising staff and reducing turnover to protect Andorra’s premium positioning.
The director of the Unió Hotelera d’Andorra (UHA), Albert Mora, gave an initial assessment of the Immaculate Conception long weekend on Monday, saying activity was uneven across parishes and that the Entry/Exit System had affected winter hiring.
Mora said early impressions, before official data are available, showed strong occupancy in central parishes and weaker demand in areas close to the ski resorts. He added that the pattern was surprising, with what appeared to be more city tourists than skiers.
He stressed that final conclusions must wait for the full results and for the ski resorts’ reports on lift-pass sales and on-slope attendance to properly assess the weekend as a whole.
A major factor conditioning the sector’s activity was the Entry/Exit System’s impact on seasonal recruitment. Mora said many establishments were unable to fill their teams either quantitatively or qualitatively. Several hotels had to let go of more experienced staff and bring in workers with less experience, and in some cases were short-handed to cover all services.
UHA plans a final survey to determine the precise extent of the staffing shortfall. Mora said the most affected areas are usually reception, kitchens and dining rooms, but members report a range of situations that must be confirmed with data.
On the consequences of the staffing gap, Mora cautioned against generalising. He said the sector’s priority is to stabilise workforces and reduce turnover in order to maintain the quality expected as Andorra seeks to position itself increasingly as a premium destination.
Original Sources
This article was aggregated from the following Catalan-language sources: