Reacting to Crisis with Hospitality
Husband & wife duo teaming up for a podcast for the first time…
Since we are both in the hospitality industry, we wanted to air a special bonus podcast episode on how the industry has been affected by the current COVID-19 pandemic & what that means for the future of the industry. We specifically discuss ways that while in lockdown/quarantine listeners can support local service industries & ways to make an impact as we start to come out & back into the world.
This is an uncertain time but one thing is certain - we are all in this together. You can listen to the full episode here.
The Hospitality Industry = Economic Driver
In Indiana we affectionally done the motto “Hoosier Hospitality”. We’re known for our service industry & how we take care of those who visit our state. And our hotels are typically always full! Nationally, we were running at a 70-80% average occupancy rate to now below 10%. Economically, that has dire impact on our nation & here locally, our state. Dollars aren’t being spent at hotels, events, restaurants, venues, etc, & we spend A LOT of money there.
Although I wish it were under different circumstances, perhaps now our industry will be taken seriously as a major economic driver. Not only from a revenue perspective but also from an employer perspective….
The Ripple Effect
Of course we’ve heard of the March Madness basketball tournament being cancelled. Weddings have been rescheduled. Major events have been cancelled all together & changed traditions many folks have had for years. But the ripple effect of when just one event cancels has been catastrophic for the hospitality industry as a whole. Cancelling one event at a hotel affects not only the property, but those working there, the vendors involved in the event, & more. They are estimating that it will be over $800 BILLION ripple effect across the US just based on events, hotel rooms, etc. that aren’t actualizing.
One Big Happy Family
The silver lining through all of this is how small the hospitality industry really is. We’ve all been able to lean on one another through this tough time. Sharing best practices & ways of doing business in this ever-evolving crisis & just being there for one another to lean on. The entire industry is really just one big family, which makes tough times manageable, but also makes them that much harder when your family is affected.
Where Do We Go From Here
America is stir crazy right now & we’ve been wearing sweat pants, trying to still eat healthy, not going out to eat & conserving our money for weeks. And we’re not sure when it will end…While we’re still waiting for the tides to shift, focus on ordering take out from a local, family-owned restaurant. Do you what you can to support the service industry from your own home.
And when this is all over, let’s pull out all the stops. Suits, dresses, order the Uber, spend a date night fundraising for the local non-for-profit that is near bankruptcy. Eat way too many appetizers & mini desserts, make your way back to your favorite hotel & make a toast for this whole thing being over.