2020 - The Journey thru Covid-19

Savvy Hotels – The Richmond Apart-hotel, Sleep Eat Love Hostel, Love Thy Neighbour Café & Townhouse House Hotel all officially re-open this Saturday 4th July 2020.

Being an independent small hotel group – we have gone through real challenges the past 4 months through this truly unprecidented global economic and health challenge. I do however feel exceptionally thankful and positive we have adapted and worked with suppliers, landlords, our team and alike and pulled through - including remaining open at The Richmond the whole time, with this single decision being the most vital decision to our future and success. Whilst we envisage still a further tough six to nine months – we are truly looking forward to getting back to business and delivering our authentic and genuine hospitality and feel in a great position for the remainder of 2020 and start of 2021!

Whilst not all hospitality businesses will be able to say this, I can say from experience, that my previous hardships really helped us make sharp decisions through this Covid-19 period. As LinkedIn is a business orientated platform, it is important to share the good and the bad as it's so education reading the experiences of others – and our bad times in late 2018, have really helped us pull through one of the Industries biggest challenges ever and without that previous learning experience, we possibly wouldnt have weathered this storm as well as we have. I would also say my involvement in working with wider entrepreneurs/SME owners during this period with my Association roles has again been so inspiring and educational also.

That all being said, it has come at some significant losses in the way of some of our key staff members having been sacrificed for the overall continuing success of the business – a horrible and upsetting act – but essential at this time – and I can only but wish those individuals the best of luck for their future success and I thank them sincerely for their support into Savvy’s continual growth & development thus far and also apologise and do genuinely feel for the circumstances they now endure. It has been a painful, fast paced and at times confusing period, but I remain extremely confident our decisions have strengthened our businesses for the year ahead and in essence this is my role in the business.

To every business owner out there, especially the newer ones, owning a business and employing staff is the most stressful & daunting rollercoaster in life and I take my hat off to every one of you for taking that leap of faith to do it – it is a thankless task and no one ever truly realises the self-sacrifices made including those close to you too – that said without your faith, desire and drive to have a go and take risks and chances this country and the whole employment workforce wouldn’t be remotely as exciting without SME’s/entrepreneurs.

It is also a time to reflect on the diversity of business! I love the fact that Independent businesses like Savvy, really do give a different employment experience to larger/branded operators. It is a often a great launch pad for those with ambition to start your own company to work in a smaller SME business as you are often see and are given real opportunity to influence the business in such a dramatic way – usually meaning it is often so much more educational, highly-driven and exceptionally interesting for it’s employee’s.

I could go on, but thanks for reading - remainder of 2020 here we come!

#independent #challenges #authentic #genuine #risktakers #noregrets #upsandowns