Christmas in the gastronomy sector: between festive day stress and warm-heartedness
When other people are celebrating, hosts are there to serve their guests
Anyone going to a festively decorated restaurant during the Christmas period can feel the special atmosphere immediately: candlelight, lovingly decorated tables and the smell of roast meat and cinnamon in the air. However, everything is running at full speed behind the scenes. Kitchen and service staff, hotel employees and many other people ensure that their guests enjoy an unforgettable evening. They conjure up menus, serve wine, decorate with devotion and still manage to keep smiling even amid all the hustle and bustle.
Christmas is the highlight of the year for many restaurants. Guests have high expectations: there should be a special menu and a unique atmosphere. There is also enormous pressure – reservations are often booked up months in advance and every small deal has to be just right. Despite all the stress, however, the pleasure in being a host is tangible, especially at Christmas. Many employees say that they regard it as a honour to provide a good time on this special day.
Christmas mood despite a hectic pace
Of course the festive season is also a challenge for many employees. While friends and families are celebrating, they are standing over a stove, serving guests or working on reception. But this is precisely the reason why a unique and special Christmas mood is often created in the team. A large number of restaurateurs say that there is a great deal of solidarity among colleagues on these days – a common feeling of "we can do this" that unites people.
Small after-work Christmas parties are often held in the team. A glass of sparkling wine, a couple of cookies, a moment of peace – and the knowledge of having achieved something special together. Some companies surprise their employees with small presents or thank-you cards while others open their doors on the festive days for people who live on their own or are needy. These companies therefore show that hospitality goes far beyond serving meals.
Heart warming moments: what makes Christmas special in companies
Everyone working in the restaurant sector has their very own Christmas stories. For example, the female cook who has cooked a traditional family recipe for her guests for many years on Christmas Eve – and reminisces about her childhood every time. Or the head waiter who conjures up a festively decorated table, thereby lighting up the face of a regular guest who spends Christmas alone.
Many companies report moving encounters: families who get back together after a long period of time, couples who get engaged in a festive atmosphere or older people who, thanks to restaurants, don't have to spend Christmas on their own. These moments make work during the festive period something very special for many hosts.
Thank you for being hosts!
Everyone working in hotels and restaurants at Christmas deserves a big thank you. They forego their own holidays in order to create a special time for other people. They bring people together, create memories and ensure that the feast of love is also truly a celebration.
Especially over the last few years which posed great challenges for the hotel and restaurant industry, it has been shown how important dedication, passion and solidarity are. Restaurateurs, hoteliers, serving staff, chefs, cleaners and many others – they all help to ensure that Christmas becomes an unforgettable experience for countless people.
Lasting appreciation
As INTERGASTRA, we would like to thank all guests from the bottom of our heart. For your dedication, creativity, patience and lifeblood – not only at Christmas but throughout the entire year. You are the people who enliven the industry, set trends and maintain traditions which impress guests and inspire colleagues.
