Cirque du Soleil: Parallels with travel, hospitality + real estate?

For my birthday on Sunday, I went to see Cirque du Soleil at London's Royal Albert Hall - having previously seen their show after the 2022 VRMA International in Las Vegas - and it got me thinking about the parallels between our industry, business and the circus, particularly the element of teamwork.

It may not be orthodox to compare something to a circus when it generally has negative connotations around chaos and pandemonium, yet there are certain similarities to the encounters we face in travel, hospitality and real estate that means that these comparisons can be reframed positively.

We tend to associate the circus with everything from acrobats to fire performers, trapeze artists, dancers and contortionists, and in many ways, this mirrors the end goal of hospitality: to deliver a unique and memorable experience for attendees.

To achieve this goal, however, the structure behind it is just as important as the final product in order to succeed.

Much like fire eaters, the short-term rental industry has been fighting its own fires early on this year.

Companies such as Frontdesk, Here and Cabana are either closing or suspending their operations, while Pontins has just closed its third holiday park in the space of a month. On top of this, the threat of stricter regulations in markets around the world is increasing.

We can be sure of even more flips, twists and turns as we move further into 2024.

However, while the challenge ahead may appear daunting, whether it be performing daring stunts metres above a stage or raising crucial funding for your business, teamwork and communication are pivotal components to delivering that exceptional experience to your guests / spectators that establish firm foundations for future success. I have huge admiration for entrepreneurs who take their own 'leap of faith' when launching a company but they will always require support from others to ultimately make that leap more reachable.

There are other reasons why companies may struggle - the current interest rate environment and economic conditions have made the landscape more uncertain and fragmented than many of us can ever remember. But, like the acrobats in the performance, the resilient entrepreneurs who face setbacks in their ventures will bounce back on their feet after reflection and leaning on others for guidance.

Rather aptly, the title of this particular Cirque du Soleil show is 'Alegría' [meaning joy, happiness or delight] and that is exactly what I wish for you and your businesses in the year ahead. Even as I write this on 'Blue Monday' [supposedly the most depressing day of the year], there are opportunities to grasp and reasons to be optimistic if we support each other to deliver the true elements of hospitality.

This is an extended version of my editorial comments previously written in our ShortTermRentalz e-newsletter on Monday 15 January - you can follow this week's edition here.