At a time when the world believed the Coronavirus pandemic to be over, a new Covid strain, Omicron BF.7, has triggered fears of a new wave in India. Concerns of a new Covid wave have persisted in many places, including India. Numerous nations are experiencing an uptick in covid infections, but China saw over 250 million cases in just 20 days last December.
Still, it does not appear that this poses a serious danger to many businesses in India. The hospitality business is now fully prepared for any scenario after three waves, ready to act on short notice in response to any government regulations.
In order to weather the storm, hotels are pursuing a number of measures right now. Controlling expenses, embracing new forms of technology and automation, investing in the education and development of employees, etc., are a few examples.
“In the post-Covid-19 world, hotels’ physical presence is among the most crucial factors. Even if cutting costs is a top priority, now is the time to maximise exposure by signing up with as many online travel agencies as possible. To maximise earnings and attract a larger clientele, expanding your OTA network is essential.”
And being included isn’t the be-all and end-all. In its place, one should make sure that all online travel agencies (OTAs) include the same total number of rooms, star rating, room kinds, cancellation policy, and check-in/check-out times.
Restoring profitability in the hotel industry also requires adopting a methodical pricing policy. Hotels should also provide price bundles and discounts that are both practical and affordable. As a result, the hotel’s bookings will be bolstered during times of unrest or low demand. It’s a smart move to offer visitors a better deal than you were charging before. Hotels can increase their occupancy rates by offering greater discounts than those of their rivals.
Before making availability on a website or other means public, a solid cancellation policy should be in place. In the event that the epidemic returns, this is a crucial selling point for your hotel. Avoid being both too lenient and too rigid with policy. If you have solid policies in place, you may increase the percentage of confirmed bookings and decrease the number of cancellations.
Even after the end of the Covid-19 era, guests would interact mostly with staff members. This highlights the need for training and knowledge in ensuring a positive customer service experience. Take care of this by giving your entire workforce access to online training modules. Also, make sure they are properly trained on any hotel-specific technology. This will keep them interested and provide direction as they seek to enhance hotel operations and provide superior service to their guests.