The president of the Puebla Association of Halls and Gardens for Events, A.C. (Apsaje), Daniel Pérez Varela, has alerted about the negative impact that clandestine halls are having on the sales of legal spaces in Puebla. According to Pérez Varela, this illegal operation has affected approximately 35% of the sales of established halls in the area.
During a press conference, Pérez Varela mentioned that, as a consequence of the pandemic, around 10% of the owners of social halls were forced to close their businesses. These halls provided employment for cooks, waiters, cleaning staff, security, among others, hired by service providers related to events.
Regarding the income generated by social events, it is estimated that during the low season and on weekends, between 90 and 100 million pesos are generated, a figure that doubles in the high season. However, recent incidents such as poisonings from adulterated drinks in halls have highlighted the importance of regulating this sector.
The most significant threat currently is the clandestine halls, which have experienced losses of 33% to 35%. Pérez Varela also pointed out that cases of individuals pretending to be representatives of established halls to offer unauthorized spaces at lower prices have been detected.
In contrast, Apsaje members have all the necessary licenses, comply with municipal regulations, safety measures, and Civil Protection requirements. Despite two years of a health emergency, they have not been able to increase their rental rates due to a decrease in bookings for year-end parties.
The social events sector in the city of Puebla represents more than 20,000 direct jobs, according to the association.
