Profits come waltzing in.

21 Feb, 2006

The Viennese season of gala balls, which runs annually from December to March, has been pronounced a major financial success for local business by the Austrian Chamber of Commerce (WKO). Hundreds of balls are held during the season, attracting nearly a quarter of a million visitors to Vienna. The five most prestigious balls alone generate around 37 million. Meanwhile four and five star hotels are almost fully booked, evening-wear rental firms, hairdressers, shoe shops and the textile industry all do a brisk trade and restaurants are kept busy with well-to-do local and international clients. According to a WKO estimate, 3,600 local jobs are dependent on the Vienna ball season.