YESTERDAY ’ S NEWS
Yesterday ’ s NEWS
What can we learn from yesterday ’ s biggest stories in travel ?
WORDS / TAYLOR COULSON
What can we learn from yesterday ’ s biggest stories in travel ? Once upon a time , prior to the pandemic , hotel guests probably never worried about walking through a crowded lobby or even thought twice about the cleaning and sanitation procedures used in their hotel rooms . Yet here we are , and things have changed . Savvy vacation suppliers have been staying productive to help guests gain peace of mind about traveling during a pandemic with an exceptional attention to sanitation and safety protocols , and talking openly about them . So , where do we go from here and what should we know about the future of travel as vaccines roll out and we get ready to book vacations again ?
SOLARISYS / SHUTTERSTOCK . COM
How long will these new protocols stay in place ? With a new normal to navigate , it ’ s safe to say not all adjustments will stick around forever . Some short-term solutions that hotels and resorts adopted in the wake of the pandemic to keep both guests and employees safe may already be gone , like elevator capacity limits . And other quick-hit solutions like extending benefits and points expiration dates and programs will thankfully stay with us for a while . However , several of the following adjustments are part of the hotel industry ’ s evolving new normal to navigate in 2021 and beyond , and travelers will most definitely benefit from it all .
Amenities like valet parking and spa services were limited or suspended throughout the pandemic . According to Phil Cordell , Hilton ’ s global head of lifestyle brands and new brand development , these amenities will eventually slowly roll out in accordance with local guidelines and guest surveys to gauge when visitors are ready for their return .
Cleaning protocols are a top-tier concern for travelers during these trying times . Robert Rauch , hotelier and founder of Hotel Guru , a website that shares trends and predictions about the hospitality industry , says he “ expects hotels will keep these new sanitizing protocols in place for a while . However , properties will likely stop advertising them as part of their cleaning process after the pandemic .”
Contactless apps create a seamless experience for guests from check-in to checkout — and they ’ re here to stay , but hotels and resorts are moving forward with them on different timelines . Depending on the app , guests can book rooms , order room service , directly message hotel staff and check-in to their suites all from their smartphone . Many of these apps and technologies were around before the pandemic , but social distancing really made going contactless key .
The future of hotel design has had sustainability and cleanliness at the forefront for quite some time . While the pandemic has slowed many hotel brands ’ progress in eco-friendly endeavors — like the transitions to LED lightbulbs , single-use bottles , straws
86 / THE COMPASS / S�MMER 2021 vaxvacationaccess . com / thecompass