Covid-19 & Hospitality

You don’t need to me to tell you the facts about Coronavirus, we see and hear about this on an hourly basis.

Covid-19 has most defiantly affected the hospitality and travel industry and not only them, but the people supplying to these businesses.

Some businesses can’t survive. But for some pubs, inns, restaurants and hotels, we can adapt to keep us ticking over.

Where possible, we need to all stick together, go to your local, have a pint and keep your distance. Buy a voucher to use in the future, it’s a good way of saving.

There is currently a high demand of everyday essentials that supermarkets are struggling to keep up with such as loo rolls, milk and bread. We, in the hospitality industry, have access to many of these items from other suppliers. So, why not create your business to be ‘The Corner Shop’. Stock essential items along with being creative, such as baking some cakes or making some doughnuts – everyone likes a treat from time to time, and with people self-isolating and feeling down about life, now is probably the time they need it the most. (you’ve all seen the pictures of before isolation and after!)

Takeaways are a great idea if you don’t already offer this. Offer some key dishes on your menus, the ones that will travel well. If you can, offer to drop these dishes off, especially to people like the elderly and vulnerable that have been advised to stay in, they will appreciate it. Guests may even be brave and stop for a pint whilst they are picking up their food. Be the center of your community.

Takeaways don’t need to just be food, offer beverages too. Wine and beer guests will probably already have at home, so why not bottle some pre-made cocktails that they just need to add ice too. Even provide the ice. (there does also appear to be a shortage of Tonic Water in some supermarkets)

Many people are currently working from home and probably bored of looking at the same 4 walls. Let them know that they can come down to the local, bring their laptops, and sit in a corner on their own whilst being served a nice cup of coffee – I bet half of them only have instant at home.

Buy some board games for all ages. With schools being shut from Friday, some families will be tearing their hair out and want to escape for a bit, lets keep these people occupied.

Organise a group walk for the community. No, they won’t be in your pubs, but it’s about keeping the locals happy and supportive. A chance to spread the word about what else you are offering throughout this time, and even better - it's free. The walk means, you don’t all need to stand right next to each other, everyone gets some fresh air and some exercise. If you did want to make it profitable, why not pack a picnic for all participating, stop halfway and drink a sneaky bottle of wine or maybe provide some hip flasks.

Bedrooms are still going to be a requirement. They may not be as in high demand as what they were, but there are many reasons guests still need rooms. For work and visiting family. There are many holidays that have been cancelled from abroad, so let’s make the most of this ‘Staycation’. Look into your market segments and the trends they are having right now.

There are also guests that want to ‘Escape the City’. Try offering and encouraging longer lengths of stays at a good rate to just get the rooms full, and hopefully see some additional food and beverage spend. Obviously, you don’t want a large drop-in average room rate, but if you are filling a cottage that would be empty anyway, then the extra revenue could be great.

If you feel you want to lower rates to attract guests, we all know that rates don’t create demand. Create some great packages that provide value with the room rate and products hidden within. This is a good opportunity to use in marketing to ensure the public know you are still open and taking reservations, don’t forget about your rooms. There is currently an increase in local searches, so market to a local demographic for this business.

Now is the time where we can make the OTA’s work for us. Give them all your bedroom stock on all days of the week. Remove any restrictions, such as 2-night stays and take any bookings you can get.

With an increase of people working from home, some people may not have the capacity to be able to do this well. Why not rent out the rooms with desks for work spaces. Offer a bottomless tea and coffee facility. There is no reason why you couldn't do this in the pub/restaurant also, just make sure those tables are a reasonable distance apart.

Remember, the government only gave ‘advice’ for people to avoid pubs, we were not forced to shut, so lets all stick together and share ideas. At some point guests will be bored and come back to us. People still need to work and need accommodation; people still need to leave the house, or they will go crazy.

Please get in touch if you would like any help in organising any of the above.

Stay safe, stick together and lets adapt the business’s to the current climate.