Over the years, the hospitality industry has proven itself to be highly buoyant one, with the potential to emerge stronger after many crises and challenging situations. However, the omicron threat has once again put hoteliers on an alert mode, derailing their hopes for a speedier business recovery.
As the Maharashtra state administration deliberates on restrictions to curb COVID-19’s spread in the state, many hoteliers are recalling the days of lockdown from 2020 and 2021. Is it time for them to push the panic button? Gorav Arora, General Manager, Novotel Mumbai Juhu Beach thinks not.
With the learnings that hotel professionals have gained over the past two years, he expects that this time, too, business will pick up and see an upward trajectory in the coming months. While the rise in cases has led to uncertainty and changes in travel plans, he is confident that the industry will recover in the course of time and better days are yet to come.
Has the number of event and room booking cancellations increased since 20th December till date for Novotel Mumbai Juhu Beach, which is the peak business period for hotels?
We had estimated that our business in 2021 would be at 65% of pre pandemic level. During October-December 2021, our business was at 80% to 85% of pre-pandemic level. Our occupancy continues to be 10% higher than pre-pandemic level and increasing the rate continues to be a focus for our team.
Currently, we expect a mixed sentiment based on the government guidelines, which are expected to be rolled out and travel, hopefully, will be realigned. We will respect the decisions taken by the government and will closely monitor our business in the coming weeks to manage the impact that could be created.
There are several conflicting reports from various sources about Omicron, SOPs and rules to be followed. How can hoteliers ensure they are on point with the latest changes?
Our team is in constant touch with the local authorities to understand the guidelines and SOPs that are implemented on an ongoing basis in the city, especially for the hospitality industry. The same is conveyed internally and appropriate measures or restrictions are immediately implemented and monitored.
Additionally, at the pandemic’s start to ensure the safety of guests and employees, Accor elevated its hygiene and safety norms by launching the ALLSAFE cleanliness and prevention label. It assures guests that these standards are met in all hotels and an ALLSAFE Officer on site strictly monitors that safety and hygiene standards are being adhered to across all hotel functions on a daily basis.
How is the current scenario likely to impact customer sentiment, which witnessed an upswing leading to pent up demand?
The current rise in Omicron cases over the past few days has no doubt created a scare in the minds of guests and the general public, and we anticipate that it will lead to hesitation and readjustment in travel plans. We are continuing to closely monitor the situation and will decide on the way forward based on travel restrictions and government guidelines. On our part, we continue to assure our guests of a safe and comfortable visit with our ALLSAFE measures, with extensive hygiene and sanitation procedures in place in our hotel.
In the wake of rising cancellations, are you considering accommodation for quarantining patients?
The current focus for us at the hotel is to continue hotel operations and we are creating customised experiences for our guests, for them to have a memorable stay. Safety and hygiene are of utmost importance and we are strictly adhering to our ALLSAFE protocol to ensure this is met.
