The Impact of COVID-19 on Hospitality

All sectors have been affected, and the original ‘V’ shaped curve of recovery is now seen to be optimistic, meaning that the impact of COVID-19 on tourism will be deep and long term. When people are able to travel again, for hoteliers it will mean much more than simply providing hand sanitisers in public spaces.

While we are cognizant of the negative impact of this pandemic, it is important to acknowledge the positives too. Pollution levels are down, and so nature is enjoying a break. We have more time to reflect on where we are heading as a society, and we have seen a coming together of communities to tackle the virus.

According the scientific journal Nature Climate Change tourism accounts for eight percent of the global greenhouse gas, a statistic that will surely gain more brevity as sustainability becomes more important to governing bodies and future travellers. Following this pandemic the population will question the distance and frequency of which they travel for leisure, being more aware of their own carbon footprint.

Self-check-in and general transaction systems will be contactless, access to rooms will be via phones, and rooms will feature voice-activated services. Programmable spaces will allow guests to customise their environment with specific art, or images of friends and family to create a home away from home.

As guests seek a closer connection to their hosts for a sense of security, we may see a rise in hotels using more direct communication apps such as Whatsapp which should be seen as a way to streamline service by operators, and future-proof systems for owners.

While the travel ban will eventually be lifted, people will continue to be thoughtful about overseas travel, both in terms of the virus and in terms of environmental impact. This opens up opportunities in urban and rural settings for ‘staycationers’, allowing people to connect with local heritage, unlock previously unexplored locations, and release pressure on the over-tourism of popular and seasonal destinations.

This pandemic has been devastating to communities, businesses, and industries around the world. The hospitality sector will be deeply impacted, but it will survive. It will just be a very different model to the one we currently know.