One of the biggest challenges for operations managers and housekeepers alike is in implementing the new cleaning protocols. Extra time needs to be planned per hotel room to make sure that the right processes are followed, and the correct manpower needs to be available to execute the new protocols adequately for the number of rooms in service.

Some hotels are also deploying cleaning techniques that require rooms to be left for three hours after spraying, others have a policy of allocating 24 hours per room before another guest can be checked in to ensure there is time to fulfill the new procedures.

We found that the average guest departure room cleaning time has increased by around 11% overall. In fact, over half of the hotels we spoke to report an increase in minutes spent cleaning each room of at least 15% or more. Ivaylo Ivanov, senior vice president of hotel operations for Okada Manila, estimates that at his 5-star resort, an additional 25% to 30% time is required to clean each room.

Expense control pressures are increasing as the costs of these operations continue to spiral with hotels having to outlay hundreds of thousands of dollars on new cleaning products and protective equipment.

With supplementary costs like these to balance against occupancy rates of 20% on average, hotels have to find sophisticated ways to save on costs that won’t compromise the all‐important guest experience.

We expected hotels to turn to a reduction in stayover cleans as a key way to balance out the additional time spent cleaning check-out stays. However, our survey found that only 12% of the hotels we have spoken to have actually gone down this route.

As a five‐star resort where guests know to expect exemplary service, Ivaylo at the Okada resort just simply does not feel this option is open to them as standard (although, if guests request it, that would of course be accommodated). Indeed, where guests do want stayover cleans, the hotels we surveyed found that cleaning time significantly increases by around 35%.

When all the strings of the current environment for operations staff are pulled together, it is easy to see that not only have their jobs fundamentally shifted but that there is a huge amount expected of them. Technology has played a vital role in helping teams to communicate and operate during the lockdown, and it will be even more essential to equip teams with the right tools in this next stage so that hotel operations can be optimized to the maximum and these key members of the team are properly supported.Now is the time to assess each process to gain a full picture of exactly what labor and time is needed to continue to operate at the level guests expect whilst adapting to the regulations of the new normal. Any investment made now to support this essential part of any hotel will pay dividends in terms of lowering staff turnover and increasing guest satisfaction as well as realizing business-critical cost savings.

As a result of the sharp and sustained drop in travel demand, industry leaders say hotels are now facing the harsh reality of deciding whether to close their doors permanently.

MyMenusOnline is 100% web-based and mobile optimized and there is no need for any app download.

Guests can also save restaurant menus to their mobile device home screens for future access.

"According to a recent COVID-19 report published by the  National Restaurant Association, restaurant operators that are getting ready to reopen will need to consider how they operate under much stricter sanitary guidelines," said Vallauri. "Some industry experts are calling for one-time-use disposable menus, which is sure to increase the operating costs for restaurant owners. With MyMenusOnline, we take that cost out of the equation."

its digital transformation initiative to enhance passenger experience, particularly on the retail front, and also part of its efforts to facilitate business recovery of airport retailers that had been adversely affected by the impact from the pandemic.

He said 39 airports managed by MAHB nationwide will have access to the platform.

“The first phase of the shopMYairports will focus on domestic travellers and local home shoppers,”

Smarter Cleaning Solutions One of the more intuitive applications, technology offers huge potential to solve the greater need for thorough cleaning and dependable sanitation without obliterating profit margins or compromising the safety of the janitorial team. From product design to virtual checklists, many tech vendors have stepped up to offer their services in this arena.

Pure employs a seven-step process to equip any space with purified, allergy-free air and ensure complete elimination of invisible toxins.

LightStrike’s Germ-Zapping Robots are another great example of tech-improved safety. Used first by the Westin Houston Medical Center Hotel, the robots can be used to sanitize guestrooms and common areas, reducing the threat of the virus.

Smart tech solutions can be integrated into personalized guest technology, whether at the time of check in or during their stay, allowing guests to learn as much or as little about the precautions their host is taking. With the option to request more attention in certain areas, cleaning can, for the first time, be a customizable experience.

Most bookings are made online and the check-in process is moving in the same direction, with many hotels investing in facial-recognition technology.

Some platforms can integrate with any access-control system, allowing it to be part of a more personalized guest experience.

Concierge apps are becoming standard, and most hotels are extending in-app offerings to include unlocking the doors, contacting room service, and ordering from the hotel restaurant. The Solay Mobile App is allowing guests to book pool chairs or beachside reservations ahead of time and from a distance. The same philosophy can be applied to gym use, pool time, and restaurant management.

Social Media and Social Good Social media is the best avenue to keep potential guests informed and motivated.

many hotel owners have stepped up to be of service where they’re needed, and they’ve used various forms of social media to spread the word about their offerings. 

Industry leaders are capitalizing on smart solutions, using new technology to rise to new demands and foster deeper client connections. Far from impersonal, tech offers new ways to offer a tailored guest experience. As a permanent part of the new industry normal, smart tech should be embraced and pursued as another opportunity to excel in guest accommodations. 

Besides continuing to make up for lost revenue during the quarantine period in spring, hotels will need an aggressive strategy in place for drumming up additional leisure business for the tail end of 2020 because corporate and group guests are still returning at a turtle’s pace; these segments cannot be relied upon to deliver healthy numbers until 2021. And for achieving the most conversion from transient lookers, the first step is to analyze your customer relationship management software (CRM) to see what you can learn from recent guest behavior

a CRM can be of assistance relates to the general satiety of eblasts, newsletters, webinars and all other forms of one-to-many marketing.

if you have rich guest profiles within your CRM, then you are enabling your managers to utilize one-to-one marketing in a world that is numb to blanket eblasts.

if your hotel doesn’t live up to expectations it will be incrementally harder to get guests to come back during a less desirable time of year.

this autumn will prove to be quite problematic for hotels that aren’t listening to what key drivers are actually motivating guests to book. You need all resources on hand to get those quick wins in the leisure segment that will save your property from dreadful occupancies during this upcoming low period and taking full advantage of your CRM is an important preliminary step.