"Nothing will be the same": How Italian hoteliers are coping with coronavirus fallout
Life in Italy is largely at a standstill since the country-wide lockdown on March 10, which came as a result of a dramatic increase in the number of infections and deaths from the COVID-19 coronavirus. All but essential travel is banned, and those traveling must prove why it is necessary.
Tourism is one of the largest industries in Italy. Phocuswright estimates created before the outbreak put combined online and offline bookings at more than $25 billion for this year.
To get a sense of the current situation in Italy, we talked to Florence-based Giancarlo Carniani last week. Carniani manages a small hotel company, ToFlorence Hotels, which operates three properties in the city. He is also the current president of Confindustria Alberghi Firenze, the region's hotel association, which has about 150 member properties ranging from small independent hotels to large ones operating under the Marriott and Four Seasons brands. He is also Phocuswright's analyst for Italy.
Below, Carniani explains how the hotels in the region are coping, why hoteliers are "furious" at Booking.com and why the hospitality industry will be starting at point zero when the crisis subsides.
