(WXYZ) — About 1/3 of Michigan restaurant owners say they don't believe they'll be in business by mid 2021, according to research from the Michigan Restaurant and Lodging Association (MRLA).
The MRLA released the research, which tracked the economic impact of the COVID-19 pandemic, and is based on surveys conducted with the National Restaurant Association and the American Hotel and Lodging Association.
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According to the MRLA, about 5,600 restaurant operators in Michigan say it is unlikely they'll be in business within the next six months. That equals 33% of the state's restaurants.
The research also found that 2/3 of hotels report they will only be able to last about six more months at current occupancy and revenue levels, and more than half (52%) of hotel owners say they are in danger of foreclosure.
“It is fundamentally clear that the pandemic is decimating the hospitality industry in this state to a degree never seen or even imagined. While it will take several years and a stable economy to reclaim the size, impact and opportunities produced by this industry, we have not yet reached the bottom," MRLA President and CEO Justin Winslow said in a release.
Winslow is urging leaders in Lansing and Washington D.C. to pass stimulus packages.
The research also found that 89% of restaurant operators expect to see sales decrease over the next three months and 48% said they are considering temporarily closing their restaurant until the COVID-19 pandemic passes.
Restaurants were forced to stop indoor dining in mid-November and it's expected they'll remain closed in the near future, even as other businesses begin opening back up.
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