CATEGORIES

SEEKING OPPORTUNITY IN UNCERTAINTY

The pandemic pushed ITC Grand Central to re-imagine hospitality, and enhance consumer experiences without compromising on the brand’s responsible luxury ethos

CODE SWITCH

How will the hospitality industry adapt to proposed labour law tweaks making 48-hour per week mandatory along with three days of consecutive holidays?

TRUE LEISURE

WITH OCCUPANCY RATES REACHING PRE-COVID LEVELS OF OVER 84%, KAVINDER SINGH MAINTAINS THAT INDIA HOLIDAYS AT CLUB MAHINDRA RESORTS

BIGGER MARKETING WITH SMALLER TEAM

Hoteliers need not compromise on their marketing plans due to reduced workforce; they can leverage technology smartly instead

AGILITY IN ITS DNA

A dexterous approach helped Tamara Leisure Experiences spin various operational facets to successfully navigate recent challenges

Hospitality Sector Should Be Given Industry Status: HAI

The association suggested that this will reduce operating costs and boost reinvestment while bringing greater transparency in the sector’s functioning

The Future Of Holidays In 2021

As borders gradually open, here is how travel will look in a post-pandemic world

The Rise Of Responsible Travel

70% of Indian travellers want to travel more sustainably in 2021 and beyond

WORKING PROFESSIONALS PREFER HYBRID MODEL WITH INCREASED EMOTIONAL SAFETY

A YourDOST survey showed that 66% of working professionals would want a flexible work from office policy

RISE OF THE SOCIAL HOTEL

Millennials are increasingly moving away from big box hotels to opt for unusual lodgings, like hostels

HOTEL OCCUPANCY LEVELS IMPROVED TO 35% IN NOV 2020: JLL

This revival was driven by leisure ‘revenge travel’ during weekends, the festival season, weddings and F&B demand

NEW YEAR, NEWER OPPORTUNITIES

Hotel Sahara Star is seeking new business verticals like residential weddings with maximum in-house services and pre-booking of bulk inventory for future dates to improve its top- and bottom-line

AXE THE TAX

Confused about the income tax support extended by the government to the hospitality industry? Here’s an effort to simplify it

BACK TO BUSINESS UNUSUAL

While occupancy rates took a tumble during the pandemic, it opened avenues for non-room revenues like destination weddings, staycations, gym memberships, virtual dinners, etc

AT THE FRONT OF THE RACE

Challenges posed by the pandemic notwithstanding, IHG signed five hotels in South West Asia and opened three new properties in 2020

Scan To Show You're Fit To Fly

The digital V-Health Passport has been designed for cross border travel by air while securing passenger data

THERE'S ALWAYS ROOM FOR IMPROVEMENT

OYO is transitioning from a management model to a revenue-sharing one to incentivise hotel partners to earn better yield on their assets

WHO'S PICKING UP THIS TAB?

As F&B outlets take a cold hard look at their beverage business, mixologists and sommeliers will have to multi-task to retain their roles

VOCAL ABOUT LOCAL

As more guests seek localised services, hotels are forced to pivot into locally connected experience spaces

THE RISE OF GERIATRIC CARE FACILITIES IN INDIA

While the freehold model is more prominent in India’s Geriatric Care facilities, Hotelivate expects the rental model to become prevalent

SWEET REVENGE

Fad or future notwithstanding, Hilton Goa Resort is going all out to capitalise on the growing trend of revenge tourism in the state

F&B MARKET TO RE-EMPLOY 1 MILLION WORKERS BY 2021

Cloud kitchens emerged as saviours for the F&B industry battling pandemic, finds out a Dineout report

OF THEIR OWN ACCORD

Pivoting from traditional business plans, Puneet Dhawan and Kerrie Hannaford adopted a flexible approach allowing Accor to be in sync with changing guest choices and government policies

FAUX MEAT IS FAUX PAS NO MORE

As consumers become more conscious about their dietary choices, there is a significant growth potential for alternative meats in the HoReCa segment

70% GLOBAL DESTINATIONS HAVE EASED TRAVEL RESTRICTIONS: UNWTO

Destinations with higher scores in health and hygiene indicators are among those that have eased restrictions faster

PURCHASING POWER

DURAI KUMAR, MATERIAL MANAGER, PURCHASING, HYATT CENTRIC MG ROAD BANGLORE

Reimagining The Post-Covid Hotel Design

Baskaran Kolathu, Vertical Head, Hospitality Architecture, Edifice Consultants outlines in detail the post-COVID design changes that will help hotels to contour a safe and superlative guest experience

WEIGHING IN ON 2020

2020 has been a roller coaster year for the hospitality industry; with more downs than ups. Most hoteliers believe that business will now be measured in pre- and post-COVID terms. As this tumultuous year draws to an end, they reflect on the challenges thrown up by the pandemic, in what manner they endeavoured to overcome these on personal and professional levels, and how they hope to use those lessons to become more flexible and resilient in the future.

STEPPING UP THE HYGIENE QUOTIENT

From more frequent, clinical level of sanitisation to retraining staff with new norms to teaming up with infectious disease experts, hotel brands are going the extra mile to add a layer of protection to their properties with elevated cleaning practices and protocols.

RETAINING THE HUMAN ASPECT OF HOSPITALITY

With technology replacing face-to-face interactions, Ginger Hotels revised its SOPs to keep the human element of the business intact, albeit safely