Prospects for hospitality and tourism industry

Yet another curveball has been thrown our way as we begin the new year. The recent surges of the COVID-19 Omicron variant can, at times, feel like a repeat of 2020 (some even say we’re not in 2022 but in “2020 too”).

With the hospitality and tourism industry still dealing with the effects of the global health crisis—from retrenchment, forced closures, and an all-time low in booking rates—it seems never-ending when, just last month, things were finally looking up. Systems were in place to satisfy the travel bug in us, and we were slowly going out again after years of strict borders and heightened restrictions; but here we are again.

Now, the new year should certainly bring new opportunities, but we approach it with more cautious optimism than ever before. I’ve put together some crucial learnings that hopefully can continue to carry us on our way toward a better normal of travel.

Look inward into domestic travel. In Asia, where most tourist-favored places are beaches, mountains, and isolated sites, going granular means going more local. Economy and budget hotels offer travelers practical and achievable experiences to these locations. As such, they play a key role in encouraging more domestic travel and that can help regenerate local tourism and keep up the country’s GDP.

Digitization is revolutionizing the travel industry. It’s time to look AI in the eye. Investing in the right technology can dramatically transform how you run a business and connect with customers. For instance, creating an app where users can book and pay directly or access more flexible promos and in-demand pricing helped lead to more opportunities for us to engage on a personal level, and that potentially converted to sales. The easier we can make traveling for our customers, the better.

Our employees are the heart and soul of our industry. Millions of Filipinos lost their jobs because of the pandemic but, as cliché as it sounds, there is a light at the end of the tunnel. The hotel and travel industry are actively hiring, and we recognize that there is a big pool of talented hoteliers who would make a viable candidate here or abroad. In fact, Filipinos are exported all around the world for being very hospitable people.

My tip for job seekers: whether you’re working at a five-star property or a budget hotel chain, it’s all about providing excellent hospitality and going beyond what’s needed. Commit to that and you’ll find yourself back on your feet in no time. For employers, as the saying goes “invest in your people, they’ll invest in you.” Retaining the best talent and providing continuous training and benefits is just as important as attracting hires. We always need to make a difference to our employees. Due to the present situation, they may need to take a pay cut today as we’re all trying to stay afloat. However, as the economy opens, remember to give them back what is due.

Adapt to the growing demands of the market. The pandemic has reshaped the way we interact with our stakeholders both internally and externally. Millennial travelers were among the first to go out as soon as they were able to, searching for places that were more colorful, youthful, Instagram-able, hip, and vibrant.

Be there for one another. With the support of our hotel and government partners, we recalibrated our plans and systems to help both ourselves and our fellow hoteliers weather the pandemic.

Ultimately, it is important to remember that we are all in this together. We are in the service business after all—for our customers, partners, and our peers. By embracing this, I believe we can look forward to 2022 with greater optimism as we adapt to a new reality.

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Miguel Capistrano III is country manager of RedDoorz Philippines. RedDoorz is Southeast Asia’s largest and fastest-growing, technology-driven hotel management company offering affordable, quality, and safe accommodations for everyone. It was founded in 2015.