The terms BC (Before Christ) and AD (Anno Domini) define the numerical labels of the Gregorian Calendar that is in use in most of the Western World. For hoteliers, we need to adapt this approach to the world of ‘Before Covid’, which ended in 2019, and ‘After Covid’ which in unfurling before our eyes right now in 2022.
All-inclusive resorts, as the name suggests, typically provide guests with bundled services and amenities ranging from accommodation, multiple dining options with unlimited meals and beverages in most cases, to spas and various sports, entertainment, and cultural activities as part of the pre-paid resort rate. The packages may differ from one property to the next, but one thing is certain travelers can completely relax and enjoy the vacation, knowing that there won’t be any surprise payments when they check out.
It is certainly leisure products and destinations that have shown the most resilience. The great success of the ski resorts, when they were open, and the fine performance of the French coastal destinations are the proof of this. The summer of 2022 looks set to be a very good one, and even better one than 2019, thus confirming the upward trend in leisure products and destinations.
A travel insurer asked me to see a lady in Mission Hills complaining of high blood pressure.
Combining two hotels in the same vicinity into one operation isn't a new concept. Hotels often do this as it makes a lot of sense, resulting in greater productivity, strategic advantages and greater efficiencies that a single hotel cannot provide on its own.
I was attending a guest at Le Mondrian when there was a knock. The guest was not dressed, so I opened the door to find myself eye-to-eye with another doctor. I recognized him as one of the new concierge physicians eager to serve hotels, including mine.
As asset management consultants, most of our work is typically operations-oriented with financial time horizons at, or under 12 months. Though short-term performance is critical, we must keep a vigilant eye on trends that will impact demand, room rates, and commensurate asset values over the long run: the next five years to as much as two decades. Hence, the impetus for this ongoing column is to explain how the concept of ‘longevity’ will come to progressively impact hotels and importantly, what you can do to grow revenues now.
She had a fourteen hour flight to Australia, explained a woman with a thick French accent. Unfortunately, she had thrown her back out again. Would I come and give something to relax her muscles for that long journey?
A service culture is one where customers are the foundation of the business. When customers receive exceptional services, they remain with a company longer; they will also be more open to sharing your business with friends and family. For instance, 7 out of 10 customers in the US will spend more with a company if it delivers outstanding services. In another textual analysis study of more than 1300 restaurant locations, 'service' was the most mentioned word. This shows that customers care a great deal about the customer experience and the service they receive.
The man who opened the door was past sixty, short, plump, balding, and tieless, wearing a rumpled suit which I suspected he’d put on to greet me. Across the room, wearing a bathrobe, a young woman sat on the bed, staring sullenly at the floor.
Signing up a hotel operator can be a daunting task to some, while others consider it almost trivial. We believe a careful evaluation is in order to find the best match.
The global sports tourism industry, as per Industry Reports valued at US$ 458.8 billion in 2019, is one of the fastest-growing segments in tourism, with a CAGR of 16.1% expected to reach US$ 1,803.7 billion by 2030. In 2019, the US alone recorded 180 million sports-related visitors, generating 69 million room nights for hotels. The sports tourism market, like all other tourism segments, took a hit due to the COVID-19-related restrictions on travel, with the segment’s value declining to US$ 323.42 billion in 2020. Having said that, unlike corporate meetings and other events, sports events cannot be hosted online.
“I’m coughing my head off. My head is plugged. I have a fever. I’m on vacation, and I need something.” I’ve seen over 4,000 guests with respiratory infections. To the average hotel doctor, this is an easy visit. He arrives, performs the traditional exam, prescribes the traditional antibiotic, and accepts his fee and the guest’s thanks. What’s not to like?
Like it or not, when a hotel’s next Quality Assurance Inspection rolls around, Employee Safety Device (ESD) compliance will now be part of the checklist if the property is managed or franchised by one of the 60 hotel companies that made a pledge to the AHLA’s 5-Star Promise initiative. That means if the hotel has not equipped certain associates with an emergency alert device or panic button platform by the time the brand inspector shows up, chances are likely it can FAIL.
As the world opens up amid the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic, travelers have come to expect more frequent cleaning and disinfecting in the spaces they occupy - but it does not have to come at the expense of healthy indoor air quality.
The pandemic has accelerated the growth of the alternative accommodations segment, which is disrupting the Indian hotel sector. Tired of being locked up in their homes for months, several domestic leisure travelers took road trips to motorable destinations, preferring to stay at vacation rentals, villas, or homestays instead of hotels for their first vacation after the pandemic because they provided more privacy and a private bio-bubble.
A guest had a flight in a few hours, explained the front desk manager of the Marina Marriott. His wife was ill and needed a doctor’s note to reschedule. How fast could I get there?
The first thing any hotel owner must do in today’s environment is ensure preparation for this incredibly strong summer season that is ready to explode with business and overall growth.
I am often complimented on the success of our business, the creativity of the premise and the length of time we have been in business. I also often hear the likes of “I wish I would have thought of that,” which often makes me think of why a successful company, service, product, or brand goes out of business after five, 10, 20 or 30 years. What is the difference between success and failure? If five different people or companies are doing the same thing, why does one rise to the top?
Traditionally travel and events are seen as a positive way to maintain mental balance with stimulation from meeting people, seeing new places, and experiencing new things, all having a positive impact on our general well-being. Mountains of research suggests that regular social interaction is one of the strongest predictors of happiness. Add to that the potential for contemplative downtime when actually travelling, and improvements in handling time zone changes, a refreshing experience should await.