Saturday, 8 August 2026
Poland’s hospitality industry is showing signs of financial recovery ahead of the peak summer travel season, with hotels leading a reduction in overdue debt across the wider HoReCa sector. While the improvement points to stronger liquidity, operators continue to face rising labour and operating costs that could test the sustainability of the recovery later in the year.
According to the latest data from the BIG InfoMonitor Register of Debtors and the BIK database, outstanding liabilities across the accommodation and food service sector stood at PLN 1.88 billion at the end of May 2026. This represents a 7.5% decline compared with a year earlier, while 401 businesses were removed from the register after resolving their financial difficulties.
The strongest improvement came from the accommodation sector. Hotels and similar lodging providers reduced their overdue liabilities by more than PLN 170 million, bringing total outstanding debt down to PLN 689 million. Catering businesses also recorded progress, lowering their overdue obligations by more than PLN 5 million to just over PLN 69 million.
Restaurants, however, continue to face more difficult trading conditions. Outstanding debt among restaurants and other food service operators increased by more than PLN 24 million over the past year, reaching almost PLN 902 million, making the segment the largest contributor to financial stress within the HoReCa industry.
Industry analysts believe the improvement has come at an important moment, with businesses entering the busiest period of the tourism season in a stronger financial position. Summer demand is expected to support occupancy levels and generate higher revenues, but companies remain cautious about the months that follow.
The sector continues to face mounting cost pressures. Higher wages, increasing utility bills and more expensive day-to-day operations are weighing on profitability, while many employers also face difficulties recruiting seasonal staff. In tourist destinations, businesses increasingly need to offer additional benefits such as accommodation and meals to attract employees, further increasing operating expenses.
Consumer behaviour is adding another layer of uncertainty. Research cited by BIG InfoMonitor suggests that many Polish households are adjusting their holiday plans because of higher living costs, often choosing shorter trips, destinations closer to home or lower-cost travel options. Although domestic tourism remains active, these changes could limit spending on accommodation and food services.
Separate surveys among small and medium-sized businesses indicate that rising operating costs remain the biggest concern for many service-sector companies. Nearly one-third of businesses are considering price increases in an effort to protect profitability rather than expand margins.
Industry observers warn that the true measure of the sector’s recovery will come after the summer holiday season. Strong occupancy during July and August is expected to improve short-term cash flow, but businesses will need careful financial management to maintain liquidity once seasonal demand weakens.
The latest figures nevertheless suggest that Poland’s hospitality sector has made meaningful progress in rebuilding its financial position since the pandemic. Whether that improvement can be sustained will depend on operators’ ability to balance higher costs with changing consumer spending patterns while maintaining profitability beyond the peak tourism season.
