But staycations aren’t the only lifeline for the industry in the foreseeable future.The new norm of working from home also offers chances. For many the dividing lines between work private life  and leisure are being blurred creating challenges. That’s why some players in the traveling industry are introducing the concept: ‘workation’. For example the multinational travel and tourism company TUI is  promoting working at a “holiday’” location. Their message: Why not enjoy yourself during your spare time by taking a refreshing dip before logging into your laptop? Why not celebrate the end of a productive working week with a drink on the beach? In addition they claim a new environment is also good for enhancing creativity and job satisfaction. As business travel and events may never return to pre-pandemic levels adapting to workation and staycation concepts might be the way to survive for the hotel industry. 

Working holiday
As months went on besides medical professionals and patients suffering from the virus a lot of other livelihoods were being affected by COVID-19 the effects of the virus spreading through all layers of society. The Grand Hotel in Amsterdam decided to help out creatives during lockdown by offering them residency for a week. Instead of isolating in their homes artists were welcomed to the suite of the five star hotel. The hotel wanted to offer them an opportunity to relax but also to regain new inspiration in different areas of the hotel for example on the rooftop and in the old library. The hHotel also aims to offer the artists in residence a platform by bringing them and their creations together once the program is finished.

Opportunities in times of crisis
Although COVID-19 has disrupted the hospitality industry massively causing a sudden loss of almost all turnover and creating uncertainty some entrepreneurs also grabbed opportunities. For example the EHM Group used their time without guests for major maintenance in their hotels. Also they drained and refurbished all pools of their Thermae 2000 location a wellness hotel with dozens of pools connected to three natural springs. An operation that otherwise had to take place bath per bath taking a much longer time.

The Historic Smithton Inn a small lodge in Lancaster County Pennsylvania took their chances when the state closed its liquor stores. The hotel already had a wine bar and with the help of a loan for small businesses they were able to create e-commerce sites within hours of hearing that liquor stores were closed. Their new online store didn't just sell wine but also offered branded sheets candles and soaps figuring people may want a piece of the vacation they could no longer take.

As months went on besides medical professionals and patients suffering from the virus a lot of other livelihoods were being affected by COVID-19 the effects of the virus spreading through all layers of society. The Grand Hotel in Amsterdam decided to help out creatives during lockdown by offering them residency for a week. Instead of isolating in their homes artists were welcomed to the suite of the five star hotel. The hotel wanted to offer them an opportunity to relax but also to regain new inspiration in different areas of the hotel for example on the rooftop and in the old library. The hHotel also aims to offer the artists in residence a platform by bringing them and their creations together once the program is finished.

Social responsibility
During the first period when the coronavirus hit countries globally a lot of hotels closed (voluntarily) because of local lockdowns. Guest numbers were decreasing to zero and from one day to the next business as usual stopped. But the hospitality business isn’t known for being one to sit still.  Unsurprisingly from that moment the industry tackled the absurd situation as it would in normal times by asking their usual question: ‘How can we help you?’.

In Abu Dhabi during April over a 1000 hotel rooms were donated to healthcare workers  Through the "Together we are Good" programme that helped to accommodate doctors nurses medical professionals and frontline support staff. The rooms could be used by healthcare professionals who were on standby for urgent cases or as a place to self-isolate away from their families. On other sides of the world hotels - including the iconic Four Seasons New York and Claridge’s in London - also turned their rooms into homes for medical staff.

Six months after the WHO declared the COVID-19 virus as a global pandemic the traveling and hotel industry has been hit hard by its consequences. Although lockdown restrictions have been eased the hospitality industry is trying to figure out how to navigate through these difficult times and how to create a ‘new normal’. Social distancing hygiene and refund policies may be the new game changers but some hotels have been thinking outside of the box to keep themselves and business busy as they try to look into the future.