After two years of the pandemic, office parties are back. With the viruses continuing to circulate, are people hesitant to go there?
“That was last night, we went.”
“It’s not my type.”
“I haven’t been to the office for almost two years. My interactions happen online”
According to the Association Restauration Québec (ARQ), the holiday season will be busy.
“People are there. The notebooks are quite full for most restaurateurs, so it’s good news,” reacts Dominique Tremblay, director of public and governmental affairs for the ARQ.
However, for some restaurants in the Latin Quarter, in Montreal, it is quite the opposite.
“There are far fewer reservations compared to previous years. Before, we had a lot of groups of 30, 45. Now, it’s more groups of 7 or 8 people. There are a lot of cancellations. I imagine that inflation is a bit to blame,” thinks Martin Guimond, owner of Le Saint-Bock.
Inflation indeed seems to dampen the enthusiasm of the revelers. The upsurge in parties has also been an opportunity for the Sûreté du Québec to recall the importance of remaining vigilant with regard to the consumption of alcohol while driving.