Indian Hospitality Industry Post Pandemic

With the pandemic wreaking havoc worldwide, the government and businesses primarily focused on the safety of the people. Around 200 countries succumbed to the pandemic and went static. Yes, the impact on this sector is enormous for both revenue and supply chains. It has significantly impacted worldwide tourism due to the disruptive travel ecosystem. It all led to talks about shutdowns of hotels, theme parks, restaurants, and other entertainment spaces.?Some hospitality brands extended support to serve society by offering their spaces to set up hospital beds or accommodating those working in the healthcare sector.

Leisure Destinations are now Work-actions Destinations:?The pandemic ushered in new working models and opportunities for the hospitality industry. As the working class suffered from fatigue of Work from Home, and everyone understood the importance of breaks from work life. The model of “Work-cation” is becoming popular now. These models offer both: vacation feeling and working facilities to individuals staying there.?

Long Stays and Home Stays Are Here to Stay:?Long Stays and Home Stays are considered much safer from crowded hotels, thus gaining more popularity and footfall these days. Such staycations are boosting local tourism and giving a kick start to aatmanirbhar tourism of India. Working with smaller numbers and welcoming smaller guests who will stay for longer is the new mantra as it also facilitates social distancing effectively.

Boutique Hotels- the King of Post Covid19 Era:?Boutique hotels are constantly adopting various strategies to chase up the Covid19 impacts. The market is trying to recover, and expectations are rife to have increased demands for boutique hotels. Apart from experiencing a personalized and memorable stay, the people are also looking towards more open spaces with less crowd. Rural boutique hotels within the driving reach are now turning into prime hotspots for staycationers. Gift cards on pre-booking for a wedding or staying, moving towards branded products, and going contactless will boost more confidence in travellers to stop. Additionally, they can market themselves as perfect isolation spots by sharing their refreshing stories of post lockdown.

The Way Ahead:?As we look positively towards the growth of domestic travel, the staycation locations top the trend. The hospitality industry needs to regain the confidence of the masses to come back to them. They need to revisit their offerings, focus on employee well-being, and strategize regulatory compliances liabilities. Digital transformations like contactless proceedings, real-time communications, and remote operations will help in bringing in more footfalls.

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