On March 11, 2020, the World Health Organisation (WHO) declared the COVID-19 disease a pandemic. By then, COVID-19 had already evolved into a monster, devouring everything in its way. And though it has been close to two years since then, the world is still recovering from its devastating attack.
Apart from destroying millions of lives, actively and passively, the pandemic also disrupted several industries across the globe. The hospitality industry is one sector that bore the brunt of the pandemic's adverse effects the most.
Due to an acute decrease in the influx of tourists and travellers, many hotels closed their businesses, leaving thousands of staff members unemployed. And even after receiving help from the state, many of these establishments could not revive themselves.
However, as is human nature, some of these hotels and other public facilities did survive and are pulling themselves up as the pandemic goes into remission. These establishments have adapted themselves to the pandemic and are showing the way to others. Let us have a look at how they're doing so.
Here we have a list of four prominent ways in which hotels are combating the never-ending challenges posed to them by the pandemic.
Hotels have always been at the forefront when it comes to adapting themselves to the changing technology standards of the world. And in the times of the pandemic, the hotel industry has only accelerated this process. Hotels are now rapidly injecting cutting-edge technology into their operations to recover what they lost during the trying times.
Since hotels are prone to hosting hoards of people on any given day, consumers have been concerned about catching the infection during their visits. Citing this, many hotels have shifted a significant chunk of their offerings online and gone "contactless".
Guests can now access almost every service offered by a hotel using only their smartphones.
For instance, MyCONECT, a South Korean firm, has launched its mobile hospitality platform that essentially allows guests to govern their entire stay at a hotel.
MyCONECT's Guest App is a feature-packed smartphone application that allows guests to
MyCONECT also provides a Staff App to the hotel that has partnered with it. This app can seamlessly integrate with the hotel's PMS, and also, it can help the staff attend to the guests' requests faster by connecting to the Guest App.
Apart from mobile apps, many hotels have resorted to Artificial Intelligence to automate regular chores to minimise contact with guests. Some hotels have even gone a step further by employing robots to sanitize their premises.
Clearly, technology is playing a major role in helping hotels recuperate from the effects of the pandemic.
Another factor that has played a crucial role in the revival of hotels is the decision of hoteliers to abide by the pandemic rules.
Many hotels have put up mask mandates and social distancing norms to deter guests from knowingly/unknowingly spreading the COVID virus. They are also following strict hygiene standards and a rigid sanitization schedule to keep the guests and the staff safe.
Thanks to this, consumers are becoming more confident about traveling and staying in hotels.
In recent years, digital marketing has become one of the most prominent forms of marketing. Every other business and organization is using digital marketing in some or the other way to increase its reach on the web. And the hotel industry is no exception.
Hotels have long been using digital marketing to promote their services. But, it is the pandemic that forced many of them to reconsider their marketing strategies and funds.
Today, most of the populace has turned to their smartphones to explore the world around them. Hence, hotels are recalibrating their digital marketing plans to amplify their brand image and reassess their target audience.
Generating quality content for their audience and actively engaging with followers on social media platforms has become the norm for many hotels.
Hotels listing themselves on Google and other travel-friendly sites has also become a frequent phenomenon.
And we are sure whether the pandemic rages or entirely subsides, hotels in the near as well as far future will actively invest in digital marketing to grow their business.
The pandemic has changed the world in more ways than one, and few know it better than the hotel industry.
Hotel owners have now realized that the old ways of doing business won't work as effectively. Thus, they are refreshing their modus operandi by following the trends in vogue among the consumers.
For example, "worcations" or "worcations" is one trend that is lately gaining traction among working professionals.
A workation - a portmanteau of work and vacation - means what it sounds like, a vacation that people take to work. This trend arose as a reaction to the work-from-home culture that confined workers to their homes for months. People started going on worcations to change their work environment, and in the process, explore a new place.
As this trend got popular, hotels started revamping their services - work-oriented rooms, fast internet, minimum distractions, etc., - to lure these working travelers.
Similarly, when solo travel became popular during the pandemic, hotels reworked their premises to accommodate lone wanderers.
And as more travel and vacation trends rise, hotels are learning to contour themselves to the changing hospitality landscape.
Like every other industry, the hotel industry has learnt to survive and thrive during the pandemic. Hoteliers are changing their business practices, safeguarding their assets and catering to the changing needs of people in more ways than one.
However, along with all these new changes, the hotel industry has also learnt to brace itself for the future. And we are sure that if another major catastrophe, similar to or even graver than the pandemic, ever strikes, hotels will be better equipped to face the repercussions.
Witness how MyCONECT is introducing unprecedented hospitality solutions to tackle the pandemic.
Learn about the future of digital hospitality from MyCONECT. Check out MyCONECT on Linkedin and Facebook.