Where do you get credible hospitality comparison figures?

DEHOGA operating comparisons, DATEV industry evaluations via the tax advisor and peer groups — beware unsourced blanket values.

How often should KPIs be compared?

Core ratios monthly with the BWA; the big industry or peer comparison once or twice a year.

Benchmarking in Hospitality: Where Does Your Business Really Stand?

Q: Is benchmarking useful for special concepts?

Yes — prime cost, occupancy costs and result follow the same logic in every concept, and your own history is always comparable.

Benchmarking is the systematic comparison of your own KPIs with industry reference values or comparable businesses — to identify strengths, weaknesses and potential objectively. In German hospitality, DEHOGA operating comparisons, tax-advisor industry data (e.g. DATEV) and your own history provide the yardsticks. The value lies not in the number itself but in the question it raises: why do we deviate — and do we want to?

Interactive: your KPIs in the industry check

Benchmark comparison, food-led restaurants

Enter four ratios — deviation traffic lights against typical reference bands appear instantly.

COGS ratio %

Payroll cost ratio %

Occupancy cost ratio %

Operating result %

🟡COGS vs. 28–34%

🟡payroll vs. 30–36%

🟢occupancy vs. ≤ 10%

🟡result vs. 5–10%

Classification for food-led restaurants; hotels and bars differ. Traffic lights: 🟢 in/better than the target band, 🟡 at the edge, 🔴 clearly outside — reference values don't replace a real peer comparison of similar size and location.

The three comparison levels

Level	Source	Good for
Own history	POS, BWA, prior years	Spotting trends — the most honest basis, same conditions
Industry references	DEHOGA comparisons, DATEV industry data, trade literature	Rough positioning, arguments with banks & in lease negotiations
Peer comparison	Peer groups, consultant pools, cooperations	The most valuable: same league, real numbers, honest talks

How to benchmark properly

Make it comparable: net vs. gross, with/without owner salary, lease incl./excl. charges — align definitions first, then compare. Otherwise you compare apples with menus.
Few KPIs, regularly: COGS, payroll ratio, prime cost, occupancy costs, result — monthly. Plus concept-specific ones like check/RevPASH or RevPAR.
Deviation ≠ error: a high COGS ratio can be positioning (premium product), a low payroll ratio self-exploitation. Benchmarks deliver questions; only the business knows the answer.
Build in consequence: one measure with a deadline per deviation — otherwise benchmarking remains number tourism.

Frequently asked questions

Where do I get credible comparison figures?

DEHOGA state associations (operating comparisons for members), your tax advisor (DATEV industry evaluations matching your business type and size class) and peer groups. Beware of unsourced blanket internet values.

My business is special — is comparison useful at all?

Especially then: not every figure must fit, but prime cost, occupancy costs and result follow the same logic in every concept. And your own history is always comparable.

How often should you compare?

Core ratios monthly with the BWA; the big industry/peer comparison once or twice a year — e.g. for budgeting and after the season.

Want to know where you stand?
We compare your figures against the right yardsticks — and translate deviations into measures.
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