Claire Barrie heads up the Vice President of Sales at Synergy Global Housing. Based in London, Barrie oversees sales throughout Europe, the Middle East, and Africa, and generates new clients and sectors, as well as leading her own team to nurture relationships with global clientele.
What are some of the changes you
are seeing about length of stay,
safety & security following the
COVID pandemic?
Sanitisation measures are table
stakes, but the real question is how
are suppliers seeking to measure and
report on these required standards
across their own properties and in
supply chain to ensure compliance.
Comprehensive and enduring
standards to ensure that we are
providing a safe environment for
guests and staff alike.
In addition,
the consideration for environmental
measures is still paramount and
therefore how are we balancing the
two e.g. towels packaged in plastic for
cleanliness guarantee, is detrimental
to the environment
• Over 60% of travel buyers expect
accommodation suppliers to provide
hand sanitisation and masks
• The ability for travellers to choose
personalised check-ins through
technology
• Over 70% of buyers will not permit
travel to countries where quarantine
exists
• LOS impact is yet to be seen however
many companies are requesting
that traveller reconsider for one
night trips, and that these meetings
remain virtual.
What are the minimum
expectations you are finding your
clients are seeking from hotels
to provide certainty around
cleanliness and hygiene?
Health & Safety measures are a
minimum requirement. I would
anticipate and hope that all suppliers
have additional new measures in place.
The Association of Serviced Apartment
Providers is trying to standardise
minimum standards within the sector.
As we see restrictions relax and the
ability to travel commence, there
remains hesitancy with travellers
due to personal risk, what is the
opportunity for hotels and airlines
to boost traveller confidence?
At the moment, the focus is mobilising
the work force and managing return
to the office. The biggest challenge is
the use of public transport which is
causing the most anxiety. This is the
key reason that companies are delaying
return to office, even with the most
stringent office onsite, social distancing
measures.
Building traveller confidence comes in
many forms, but the most important is:
1. Communication of WHO and
government updates and how
these are interpreted into the
workplace across policy.
2. Employee and Stakeholder Surveys.
Many companies are conducting
ongoing surveys to gauge employee
comfort levels and appetite to
travel and to return to the office.
3. Supplier Measures. A close
monitoring of supplier education
which can be shared with internally
and externally
4. Policy amendments. As a first step
only business critical travel will be
permitted.
5. Quarantine restrictions. Almost
80% of companies would not
permit travellers to country who
have quarantine measures.
6. Financial stability, reputation and
brand strength
7. Traveller wellbeing will have a
greater significance, with more
poignance than ever before
What do you foresee this will look
like in 5 years as an industry?
5
years is a very long time at this
point – perhaps I could say the
next 12 months. I think it will be a tough road to
recovery. IATAs estimated a loss of
US314bn in passenger revenue loss
due to Covid in 2020 (55% decline on
2019). Airline reduced capacity, low
load factors & airline refunds, future
increase in oil price. 2021 will see a
significant rise in airline costs. This
is particularly difficult for low-cost
airlines who rely on full flight capacity.