PARIS (Reuters) – Paris riverboat cruise firm Seine-En-Bateau was braced for a bumper Christmas party season paying homage to the world earlier than COVID-19. But that was earlier than the Omicron variant landed.
Since the start of the week, co-owner Pascale Ben Soussan has fielded one cancellation after one other as corporations both deserted their party plans or postponed them to a later date.
“It got here out of nowhere. A wave of panic is sweeping by,” Ben Soussan advised Reuters. Half of the corporate’s December bookings have already been worn out, she mentioned.
Much stays unknown about Omicron. It has gained a foothold in Asia, Africa, the Americas, the Middle East and Europe, the place a fifth wave of the pandemic and surging an infection numbers are quick draining any sense of festive cheer.
Evan as scientists race to grasp how contagious and virulent the Omicron variant is, the expertise of Seine-en-Bateau illustrates how corporations are performing even earlier than policy-makers in some nations impose new curbs.
The more and more cautious temper offers a blow not simply to bars and eating places, however the wider leisure trade.
Ben Soussan mentioned Seine-en-Bateau costs tens of hundreds of euros for a full-blown party for a number of hundred individuals. “It’s the entire chain that’s impacted: caterers, DJs, magicians, inside decor employees.”
ANXIOUS COMPANIES
An more and more bleak image is rising throughout Europe.
Highlighting the dangers, Norwegian authorities mentioned 13 individuals had been contaminated with the Omicron variant following a company Christmas party in Oslo.
British grocery store group Sainsbury’s mentioned it had postponed all Christmas events till the brand new 12 months whereas JPMorgan cancelled its annual festive carols reception in London, citing the pandemic. JPMorgan additionally mentioned it was suspending indefinitely its year-end party in Paris.
Deutsche Bank has advised its London workers they’ll maintain small gatherings on the particular person group stage, with a adverse lateral move take a look at required. Asset supervisor Schroders and the City of London Corporation which runs London’s historic monetary district additionally requested company to take fast exams earlier than attending specific festive occasions.
“Are corporations prepared to take duty for the welfare of their staff or do they suppose the danger is appropriate?” mentioned one supervisor at a consultancy in London, who declined to be named to keep away from figuring out their employer.
British Prime Minister Boris Johnson has repeatedly insisted individuals mustn’t cancel their vacation celebrations, although senior well being official this week mentioned individuals mustn’t socialise until needed.
French President Macron is convening senior ministers for a COVID-19 ‘defence council’ on Monday however has thus far made clear he favours accelerating vaccine boosters over curbs. The German authorities has not but issued any suggestions for the festive interval.
In Germany, 9 out of 10 eating places and occasion areas had reported Christmas party cancellations by mid-November, based on hospitality physique Dehoga. It estimates practically half of Christmas events have been known as off thus far.
Back in Paris, singer and DJ Severine Nells mentioned her December, which two weeks in the past was set to be as busy as in 2019, was quick unravelling as final minute cancellations got here in. Clients had been additionally heaping doubt on provisional January bookings.
“I used to be speculated to be working tonight. But (the consumer) pulled out two days in the past,” Nells mentioned. “It’s the businesses making the choice as a result of they’re afraid.
(Reporitng by Richard Lough in Paris and Iain Withers and Carolyn Cohn in London; extra reporting by company finance groups, Gwenaelle Barzic in Paris and Klaus Lauer and Rene Wagner in Berlin; Editing by Emelia Sithole-Matarise)
