In an attempt to deal with the crisis – COVID-19 pandemic which has affected tourism and hospitality sector heavily, the StayWell Hospitality Group has come up with a number of initiatives to shorten the road to recovery. Along with the safety measures, the Group has initiated a range of flexible booking options for guests, to provide additional peace of mind to those wanting to make travel plans.
“We keep reviewing and optimize our revenue generation strategies and cancellation policies; creativity is the key to design offers to target domestic and local businesses after winning the trusts from the guests that our hotels are safe and follow all the safety measures”, says Rohit Vig, Regional Managing Director – India & Director Development, StayWell Hospitality. Find out more what he has to say about the Group’s initiatives.
Would you like to elaborate on the operational strategies of StayWell Hospitality to be taken while opening the properties amidst the Covid-19 crisis? Current COVID-19 pandemic has caused major demand disruptions and effect heavily on the forecasted overall profit. We are reviewing all our operational strategies for reopening of our hotels and closely mitigate the impact on EBITA. The next few months are very challenging to drive business as demand has declined to an all-time low and to maintain hotels operational cost for the coming few months is a mammoth task, until such time normalcy in operation returns.
We continuously working on parameters to attain operational excellence with the limited resources at our hotels, source out local markets for demand generation, bringing creativity to new offerings, adopting multitasking culture in place, working with key stake holders on tight profits margins and keeping guests safety on top priority to win their trust that our hotels are safe.
At a time when almost no business is expected in the next few months, what are the challenges in front of you? How are you going to manage the man power? Yes, coming few months will be challenging, we keep reviewing and optimize our revenue generation strategies and cancellation policies; creativity is the key to design offers to target domestic and local businesses after winning the trusts from the guests that our hotels are safe and follow all the safety measures. Seeing the business sentiments, will keep reviewing the areas and manpower required to ensure guests get all the facilities.
Have you come up with any specific strategy to deal with the situation post Covid-19? We have launched a range of flexible booking options for guests, to provide additional peace of mind to those wanting to make travel plans. The Group’s Reserve Now, Pay Later initiative allows guests to book their stay across all of the StayWell properties with a 20% discount, and without any payment up front. The initiative also permits cancellation without penalty up to 48 hours prior to arrival. StayWell loyalty program members also receive additional discounts on rates globally.
We keep reviewing and optimize our revenue generation strategies and cancellation policies; creativity is the key to design offers to target domestic and local businesses after winning the trusts from the guests that our hotels are safe and follow all the safety measures.
Kindly throw some light on the safety measures to be taken while opening the properties? At StayWell Holdings, we have recently announced our post COVID-19 brand standards for hygiene & sanitation. With a focus on protecting guests and employees, the Brand Standards have been developed in conjunction with one of the world’s leading testing, inspection and certification agencies, Bureau Veritas, and adhere to the Bureau Veritas SafeGuard Assurance Program.
The Standards outline auditable measures that span front office, guestrooms and housekeeping, public areas, back of house including suppliers, restaurants and food outlets, functions and events, and human resources and training. Each new measure complements the already stringent standards upheld by the group and has guest and employee safety front and center.
These standards have been translated into what has been dubbed the ‘Stay Well’ measure for the group’s hotels. This program is designed to not only provide the safest possible environment for guests as they return to travel, but also to assure them, through independent implementation audits, that StayWell has adopted the highly stringent standard and operational protocols required to achieve the certification.
Hospital grade cleaning features heavily in the new standards, including increased frequency of cleaning, and use of chemicals to kill COVID-19. Every property will install sensor hand sanitizers within all public spaces including lifts, and will undertake management of social distancing across public spaces. In addition, StayWell Holdings is introducing innovative measures such as immunity boosting menus, and the introduction of contactless free restaurant mobile ordering systems at all participating hotel restaurants.
