Photo courtesy of Hotel SOFIA.
The COVID-19 crisis has created uncertainty in a number of industries; without a doubt, one sector which has been hit particularly hard is that of hospitality, with hotels aimed at both tourists and businesses suffering the consequences of the pandemic.
To find out more about the challenges faced by the sector, we spoke with Juan Rangel from the Hotel SOFIA here in Barcelona.
How do you view the hospitality sector currently and how do you think it will survive this year?
Clearly, we have been hit hard. But this has also given us time for reflection and improvement. In the end, we have no choice but to reinvent ourselves and adapt to the changing times.
As for customers, these changes will increase the value of everything that restaurants, bars or hotels provide. What does this mean? Well, even though I work within the sector, I now value being able to get out of my house and go for a coffee far more than I did before. This is an added value that can benefit us. Now, more than ever, customer service has come to the forefront and there is an added focus on security, with home deliveries being incorporated more.
Is home delivery here to stay?
Even before the pandemic home delivery was already an important service. But now in the face of the current uncertainty, and given that there may be further outbreaks of the virus, the value of home delivery services will be further reinforced. We have changed our habits. Now we order more food from home and this trend will continue into the future.
Do you think that without tourists, the sector will be sustainable?
To answer this question, I think we need to look at the other branches of the sector. The tourism industry is going to return, but it is going to do so progressively and slowly.
Flights opened on July 1, which is very late in the season, but of course, it could not be done any sooner due to COVID-19 safety measures. In light of such a late start, we will be unable to arrive at a rate similar to that of other years. Tourists will come, but not as many as usual. Therefore, the focus is going to have to be more local and we will need to adapt through the creation of innovative new proposals.
If the government were to promote some kind of incentive to help make these changes, then that would also help stimulate the sector again.
What about business travel—what do you foresee?
Business travel will always be necessary. This sector may even recover faster than vacation travel, because for tourism, the summer months are the most important. Business travel has a greater recovery margin.
I dare to predict that by next May we might be at almost 100%. For example, the Mobile World Congress in Barcelona was canceled in 2020, but is going ahead for next year!
In the interim, do you see hotels opening up more to the city's residents?
There are of course some positives, and local clients in particular will benefit. People who think that hotels are only for tourists will inevitably change that view, since they will now be able to enjoy more spaces in the city. In my opinion, there are a number of professionals who will make good use of these new options.
If you would like to learn more about the Hotel SOFIA, you can visit the website at sofiabarcelona.com or follow on Facebook: @Hotel.Sofia.Barcelona, Twitter: @HPrincesaSofia and Instagram: @sofia.barcelona.