In view of the COVID-19 pandemic, mandatory government closures and social distancing measures have had a strong impact on the hospitality industry worldwide, forcing many companies to restructure as they struggle for short-term survival.
But what will happen in the long run? The most experienced hoteliers predict that the new containment measures – and in particular social distancing – will last much longer than the next few weeks and/or months ahead as governments seek to ensure safe socialisation and prevent the start of a second wave of chaos.
In my view, social distancing, among countless other challenges, can be the greatest impact on hospitality when it resumes in a few days. How will you manage people on a day-to-day basis regarding social distancing? Are they employees, suppliers and especially your customers?
How can the global hospitality industry return to its new normal? The hotel company that has this vision and follows the distance will leave in front of the others, demonstrating seriousness and concern with the health protocol so widespread by the WHO worldwide.
Wearing masks will represent an additional cost to the hotel chain
Hoteliers need to accept these changes and try to understand that this will continue to be part of a long contingency plan. This is crucial to bringing credibility to your customers in the face of a pandemic as serious as this.
Social distancing is still one of the most effective ways linked to the use of masks to solve this situation until you have the vaccine, but prepare your pocket, as it has a considerable economic cost.
Contingency plan to deal with crises
Unfortunately, hotel operations need to remain prepared to face crises, be they of all orders.
The hotel is full of risks and challenges, even in the best times. It is not easy to do food and beverage management, hospitality in general and leisure in the case of resorts. I note that our industry contributes significantly to the global economy.
It’s not enough just to open your hotel operation and think it’s all settled. You must have your contingency plan in hand and work on it in a very analytical way. It is essential to follow this plan to the letter in the face of this chaos scenario.
Normality only with the vaccine
The hospitality industry will only return to normality when people and businesses have confidence that the virus is no longer a problem. That is, again the discovery of the vaccine, cure, etc.
And even when they discover the vaccine, this problem of fear and insecurity will continue to exist. We’re talking about a global pandemic and this is no joke.
You need to know how to analyze and apply in practice your plan to recover the business – save your business, take profits, adjust your prices before this stop and resume. How much is your estate worth today? Have indicators of your company because you will have to decide which path you want to go.
Behavior of respect for others
As for people, social distancing should be the new behavior that we will inherit from Coronavirus for a long time, and the following question comes to me for reflection: how do you manage education that should come from home?
This would not actually have to be administered, but should be part of common sense and concern for others.
Social distancing reflects, in fact, the most basic education that is respect for others and this is far from happening in practice. Think about it.
@NilsonBernalHospitality
Co-Founder and CEO da Plataforma Bymschool. Consultor na área da hotelaria e hospitalidade, palestrante e escritor. Atua na Indústria de hospitalidade há mais de 25 anos em companhias como Complexo Jurema Águas Quentes Resorts, Bourbon Hotéis & Resorts, Mabu Hotéis & Resorts, Bristol Hotéis & Resorts e Atlantica Hotels International. É embaixador pela Divine Academie Française des Arts Lettres et Culture (Paris). Membro Executivo de Honra da Academia Europeia da Alta Gestão desde abril/2019. Atualmente mora nos EUA estando a frente de vários projetos.