In a post-coronavirus world, finding new sources of revenue will be key for hotel businesses rather than dreaming of full bookings, according to SiteMinder, a Sydney-based distribution hospitality platform provider.
As event gatherings shrink in size and frequency, hoteliers should be rethinking the function of their spaces and how they can be repurposed for new revenue streams, said Brad Haines, SiteMinder's regional vice-president for Asia-Pacific.
Lockdowns have pushed some hoteliers to launch initiatives such as food delivery to utilise hotel restaurants and bars to generate cash flow.
This is a new trend, Mr Haines said, and trust and safety will become paramount for hotels. Hygiene will become a greater determining factor for where consumers choose to stay, and sanitary items will become permanent fixtures in every hotel.
When tourists had to cancel or adjust travel plans abruptly, due to border controls in many countries, it created new hardships when they tried to get refunds from online travel agents (OTAs).
Mr Haines said booking windows and trip durations will be shorter for the foreseeable future after the pandemic.
Direct booking channels from hotels, which provide more benefit and experiences that many guests would have gone through, will surely influence how they book again. But the strength of OTAs in providing hotel reach and visibility will always have an important role to play.
Mr Haines also encourages hotels to switch from traditional face-to-face check-ins and check-outs to mobile keyless entry to avoid physical exchanges across the front desk.
Technology will play a greater role in the corporate world and will extend to considerations for the Mice (meetings, incentives, conferences, exhibitions) sector, as companies have to reassess their needs to travel for business.
"It's not a matter of whether the behaviour will change or if people will travel again. They absolutely will," Mr Haines said. "The question is how."
SiteMinder said booking data for hotels in Thailand has largely followed the same patterns as the rest of the world during the outbreak.
Thailand saw a drop in bookings a little sooner, and at a greater level.
SiteMinder has launched a global programme alongside partners to create a virtual forum for hoteliers to learn about the latest changes happening within their local market and understand how they can react, respond and recover.
Mr Haines said tourism recovery times will vary from market to market. Domestic tourism and land travel are expected to surge, influenced by international border controls and people's comfort level with travelling abroad.