In the past two years, our world has changed and evolved in unprecedented ways due to the COVID-19 virus. The pandemic affected virtually everyone, forcing us to rethink, modify, and adjust to new, temporary practices that eventually became the norm. We saw how the pandemic forced changes in all types of businesses and institutions, from schools, healthcare facilities, service industries, and many more. One area hit particularly hard by the pandemic was the hospitality industry, with travel restrictions and fear of contracting the illness resulting in a lack of travel. Thankfully, things are finally beginning to turn around for both the world and hospitality industry alike. Tourism is rebounding and hotels are seeing guests return in a big way. In January 2022, tourism to and throughout the Americas had already seen a nearly 100% increase from the previous year. This is largely attributed to restrictions being loosened or removed and the world trying its hardest to get back to what one could call normal.
As government restrictions eased, hotels have also taken a more relaxed approach when it comes to various covid safety measures. Gone are the days of smiles being hidden behind face masks (in most states, at least), and the hotel lobby is full and lively again, with no restrictions on seating. Guests can now happily pack themselves into elevators as much as they’d like, and most importantly, continental breakfast is back! Things still haven’t returned to exactly the way they were, however. The world, and in particular, the hospitality industry has changed throughout the pandemic, learning more about what consumers want and reinventing their hotels as a result.
COVID-19’s Impact On the World and the World of Hospitality
While some of the COVID restrictions may have seemed a bit extreme at the time, it’s important to remember the impact the virus had on our lives, our businesses, and the world. After March 2020, people were faced with a new reality that felt completely different from life beforehand. Numerous industries and businesses had to evolve, relying on new procedures in order to stay open. Restaurants were some of the most affected, with dining rooms closing and curbside or drive-thru being the only services available. The same happened with retail stores, who began shifting to online sales while emphasizing delivery and curbside pick up in order to generate profits. Salons and other cosmetic businesses were completely shut down or operating in a limited capacity, typically requiring appointments and doing away with walk-ins. Needless to say, this was a drastic shift for most. According to an economic briefing by Patrick Coate, less than 6% of American workers reported working from home in 2019. However, by May 2020, this number skyrocketed to over 50% completely upending schedules and disrupting whole industries in the process.
Another such industry to be completely upended was hospitality, which thrived on bookings. Since the average individual was no longer traveling as often for business or leisure, several hotels were faced with the threat of closing their doors, in some cases, for good. Hotels had to shift gears and rethink how to make guests feel safe at their property. While cleanliness and sanitation had always been an important factor, it became apparent that these two components were now of the utmost importance.
One way in which hotels responded was by making things as touch-free as possible. Contactless express check-ins not only curtailed excessive touching, it also made the process of checking in both faster and easier. In addition, more hotels began implementing digital keys so guests could access their rooms through mobile devices.
Hotels with hot tubs, saunas, steam rooms, and similar luxuries had to reassess the best way to offer these amenities in a safe environment. Some made the decision to close them down temporarily, not wanting to monitor or assume any risks. In other hotels, these amenities were now reserved for single users or families only, most of whom had to book these services in advance. A few hotels even turned their spas into bookable rooms!
Hotel fitness centers were also affected, which presented a bit of a conundrum. Closing the fitness center wasn’t the best option since maintaining your health was a top recommendation from the Centers for Disease Control (CDC), and many guests still wanted to be able to exercise and stay in shape within a safe environment. This forced hotels to rethink their fitness areas. While regularly disinfecting the equipment became the new standard, some hotels placed limits on the number of people allowed in a gym. Other hotels required guests to make appointments in order to access the gym, essentially turning an entire fitness center into a private gym during that appointed time frame. Some even went so far as delivering portable exercise equipment to guests in their rooms. These were just a few of the ways that hotels tried to deliver guest satisfaction all while maintaining safety standards.
The ways that guests ate at hotels also saw a massive overhaul during the pandemic. Serving breakfast in a buffet style was no longer deemed safe, so several brands introduced “to-go” style breakfast bags. Gone were the days of pulling up to a table to dig in and in its place was taking a pre-packaged breakfast to eat in a more isolated capacity.
These changes were all in addition to heightened cleaning protocols that involved constantly sanitizing the premises and providing PPE for guests and staff. Every measure was reinforced by signage and employees reminding people to stay six feet apart, mask up, and wash hands to help slow the spread of germs. By employing all of these methods, hoteliers could emphasize sanitation and cleanliness while still making guests feel safe and comfortable, proving that hospitality still remained during these fear-based times.
Renewing Your Hotel’s Dedication to Safety
It’s been over two years now since the initial onset of the pandemic, and the situation is much different with many companies and industries regaining a sense of normalcy. Thanks to a combination of factors, including vaccines, treatment methods, and a simple increase in knowledge about the nature of the virus, the once dire tone surrounding COVID-19 has become one that’s far more manageable. This has been reflected at an organizational level with the CDC itself pulling back on many of their health recommendations and placing the responsibility at a more individual level. Restrictions and mandates are falling by the wayside, allowing travelers to enjoy a life closer to resembling that of pre-2020.
With travelers now trying to make up for lost time, it would be wise for hoteliers to carry on with some of these safety measures to keep germs and sickness at bay, ultimately minimizing future risks for their guests. Continuing to offer features like “to-go” breakfast and contactless check-ins, as well as maintaining sneeze guards at front desks are simple ways to maintain safety and distance. In addition, continuing to display signage that promotes social distancing and other healthy practices is an effortless way to bolster these measures. These include social distancing floor decals, which keep guests from crowding around each other as they gather around the front desk, the concierge, or while in line for breakfast. In addition, hotel room door seals are a great way to reinforce that you’ve taken care to provide a clean, sanitized room for their stay.
In addition to the measures above, hand washing reminders and “Wipe Down Equipment” signs for gyms also help promote a safe and healthy hotel environment. By continuing to bolster these health practices, you’ll have a hotel that’s ready to welcome guests with an outstanding experience.
More than likely, you already have many of these signs in place, but they may have gained some wear and tear over the past two years. Whether it’s replacing social distancing signs or ordering something else entirely, HOTELSIGNS.com is here to meet all your signage needs. With our dedication to the compliancy standards set by regulatory organizations such as the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA), and a Life-of-the-Building Guarantee that promises to replace any of our signs that are found to be faulty, we’re your one-stop shop for ordering the signage that makes your hotel healthier and more hospitable.