With Memorial Day creeping up, summer is just around the corner. For many of us, the arrival of summer brings to mind vacations, down time, and getting some sun!
Will this year be different? As vaccines become more widely available and we gravitate towards a post-pandemic world, the experts say a massive increase in bottled-up travel will accompany it. In fact, the U.S. Travel Association reported that 87% of American travelers now have travel plans in the next six months – the highest level since March 2020.
But that’s not all that’s changing; in hospitality and tourism, the pandemic will change the expectations, perceptions, and consumption patterns of hotel customers even in a vaccination world. So how can you accommodate travelers headed on vacci-cation?
Innovate Changes to “Normal” Procedures.
COVID-19 has changed how we want to physically interact with people and places. Your hotel or motel should minimize touch for guests in day-to-day activities, from check in to payment to amenities.
Electronic door closers, revolving doors, and apps to order room service, complete payments, and interact with the front desk are just some of the technology investments which may help enhance customer satisfaction and feelings of safety, and reduce health risks.
Stock Up On Inventory.
Fluctuations in travel guidelines this summer are almost certain to happen, and you don’t want to find yourself unprepared. COVID-19 restrictions could change at a moment’s notice, and if cases surge there’s a chance new lockdowns could occur in different parts of the world.
On the other hand, you don’t want to find yourself unprepared amid a large influx of guests. Fortunately, if you happen to over-prepare, many hotel supply items are timeless, so it doesn’t hurt to have extra inventory on hand.
It’s important to note that Front Desk Supply’s lead times are between 2-4 weeks for most custom products, even if the custom design is a re-order, and times vary based on product and capacity that week. Further, FedEx is regularly experiencing longer-than-usual times to ship.
However, if you’re in a pinch, you can find a selection of hotel inventory items readily available for purchase and shipment if you’ve run out here, which typically ship same or next day!
Create a Safety/Hygiene Protocol.
Hospitality and tourism operators should create and test a robust safety and hygiene protocol before the summer rush. Employees should be thoroughly trained and remain up to date on the latest sanitization recommendations from the Center for Disease Control for the safety of both staff and guests.
Hoteliers may also consider keeping detailed records, akin to incident reports, of anyone who becomes ill while staying at the hotel in order to trace any transmission risk.
Unsure about how to help your hotel continue functioning successfully during these changing times? Download our Free Hotel Checklist. This list provides your hotel with information on how to keep your doors open safely and successfully.
Many of the items on our hotel checklist are available for purchase on our new website.
