Human Resources

Property owners are really going to have to focus on consistency, strong reviews, and unique experiences. Travelers want to know that they're going to have a great experience, every time. They should also look into increasing their amenities as well.

Homestay providers, have ample opportunity to capitalise on the provision of innovation and personalisation within and throughout their product and service. Many Airbnb hosts, for example, offer an 'open home' policy and that, can serve to be a huge advantage when attracting new guests to their stay.

Despite competing efforts, Airbnb offers a different type of experience than hotels. Each property is different, which is its own source of demand. Travelers also travel for different reasons, which will influence where they choose to stay as a guest.

My perspective is that an authentic, personalised experience does not require touching the guest. It is true that we are accustomed to shaking hands, speaking in close proximity, and serving the guest items that one touches, but contact and proximity are not what guests remember when they complement the service of a hotel.

At the end of the day, personalised experiences are all about "thoughtful" gestures. The great thing is that these gestures can be executed in ways that don't involve contact. This can include outreach emails, following up once the guest is at the property, texting services, hand-written welcome notes, and committing to always finding ways to delight and surprise guests.

Let's take a step back for a moment to look at the bigger picture: COVID-19 will absolutely linger for some time with new variants and local or regional hotspots of concern. We'll likely face rolling vaccinations and other steps as well.