5 Ways on How Hotels Are Adjusting to COVID-19

The global spread of the COVID-19 virus has affected operations of all major businesses, but one industry that felt its effect the most is the hotel industry. With various travel restrictions and lockdowns implemented since the start of the pandemic, fewer people have travelled and checked in at hotels. This doesn’t just affect smaller hotels in different parts of the Philippines, but also larger and more frequented establishments, including hotels in Pasay City, Makati City, and Quezon City. Many employees have lost their jobs, and many hotels have halted operations temporarily.

After months of uncertainty, many professionals in the hotel industry are beginning to have a glimpse of the light at the end of the tunnel. The continuous vaccine rollout and restrictions easing are giving many people hope that businesses will bounce back. But to do this, hotels must adapt to a post-pandemic environment.

This is what many hotels are doing now. Hotels that want to stay in business amidst the global crisis are adjusting their methods and systems to fit the current landscape as well as the present needs of their guests. Here are some examples of how hotels remain operational even with the current public health crisis.

Hotels Look for Different Revenue Sources

When lockdowns were imposed, it forced many hotels to rethink their strategies and look for creative solutions just to stay in business. When guests were no longer coming in, some hotels began to seek new opportunities by maximizing what they already had to offer—food and beverage. Hotels fired up their restaurants’ kitchens and offered their specialities for takeaway and home deliveries.

At a time when liquor stores closed, hotels opened their bars to the public by selling wines and craft brews curbside or to go. In addition, hotels put up their branded merchandise and souvenirs for sale, so people who miss the hotel experience can remember it even while at home. Although these don’t bring the same revenue as a fully-booked hotel, these alternative revenue sources helped cover costs and kept establishments relevant to their customers.

Hotels Offer Workcations

Many hotels saw a new trend in the hospitality market. When old patrons opted not to travel or check-in at hotels, a new breed of customer came in—professionals working from home. Many of them opt to stay and work in hotels to get away from the usual home space and experience a change of environment.

Hotel management noticed a lot of people still want to be around other individuals while maintaining social distancing. To adjust to their needs, hotels offer special workcation rates inclusive of high-speed internet access and options for room service. They will also need to keep in mind and refer to Altech’s Guide on high end and low end two way radios.

Hotels Assure Their Guests’ Safety

One of the first things hotels did when businesses reopened is to let their guests know that they can safely stay in the hotel thanks to the stringent health and safety protocols put in place. Although cleanliness has been a regular practice, it wasn’t until the global pandemic started that hotels started to advertise it. Hotels are now partnering with trusted brands of disinfecting and cleaning products and systems to rebuild the trust of their customers.

Since guests are concern about the people they interact with, hotels are also informing guests that they prioritize the health of their staff and comply with national health and safety rules. In addition, hotels are implementing social distancing, limiting the use of common spaces, and reducing room availability and certain services. These are just some of the ways hotels are demonstrating hospitality when traditional methods no longer work in the present situation.

Hotels Embrace Digital Solutions

Hotel Staff Is Kept to a Minimum

Many hotels keep a core team that includes key employees knowledgeable or experienced with various departments and operational tasks. This way, all staff are competent in all functions of the business even if they are kept to a minimum. To avoid the high costs of overstaffing, hotel management can use the multitasking skills of the core team to fill resource gaps and train newly hired employees.

Since hospitality professionals are some of the most affected by the global pandemic, hotels have had to assure their staff’s needs will be taken care of. This means staff will have income security and their concerns will be heard during difficult business circumstances.

Although operations are still far from being back to normal, hotels are changing their hospitality methods to attract guests and bring new sales. Aside from providing guests with a memorable and comfortable experience, hotels are putting health and safety protocols on their priority list. In these uncertain times, all businesses—including hotels—must adapt to the post-pandemic landscape if they want to thrive in today’s world.