Challenges Faced by Hospitality, Leisure and Travel Industry During COVID-19 Pandemic

This essay discusses the impact of COVID-19 on the hospitality, leisure, and travel industry. It covers the challenges faced by the industry, such as low occupancy rates, re-opening challenges, and price elasticity, and the measures taken by the industry to cope with the pandemic, such as implementing hygiene protocols, providing protective equipment, and adopting contactless technology. The essay concludes by emphasizing the importance of complying with safety regulations and implementing new strategies to attract customers.

Essay
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Table of Contents
INTRODUCTION...........................................................................................................................3
MAIN BODY...................................................................................................................................3
Challenges of Hospitality, Leisure and Travel industry during COVID 19 pandemic...............3
CONCLUSION................................................................................................................................6
REFERENCES................................................................................................................................7
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INTRODUCTION
The essay is based on the challenges which is faced by hospitality, travel and leisure
industry in COVID 19. The pandemic has created a great impact on every sector across the globe
and it is unpredicted and moving continuously. Due to pandemic, world economy has shut down
such as social distancing, community lock down, travel and mobility restriction and stay at home
orders has influenced the hospitality and travel industry (Zhong and et. al., 2021). COVID 19 has
decreased the demand of business which affects their profitability and growth. Government
imposed lock-down due to which restaurants and hotels were asked to limit their operations.
During the crisis, government has taken certain precaution and measures in the public, health and
economic fields. Pandemic has ruined all the developments in business and it mainly affects
service oriented sectors such as hospitality, travel and leisure industry. The effect of COVID 19
has spread across the world, main motive of government and business is to save the lives of
people. Hospitality and Tourism sector is one of the major economic sectors that contribute in
the economic development and job opportunities.
MAIN BODY
Challenges of Hospitality, Leisure and Travel industry during COVID 19 pandemic
COVID 19 is a disease which is spreading rapidly across the world through human to
human transmission. The countries have instituted short term travel restriction in order to stop
the spread of disease. Pandemic has also made drastic change in the operation and functioning of
business activities due to which companies have to take certain precautions in order to deal with
the impact of crisis (Pillai, 2021). Tourists are avoiding risk and crowded tourists destination so
that they can remain safe from the disease. Hospitality, Leisure and Travel Industry is facing one
of the biggest issue of COVID 19 which influences their productivity, profitability and growth.
These industries are most affected by the consequences of pandemic due to which it raises
anxiety about the ability to recover from this drastic situation. The Tourism and Hospitality
industry mainly represent development opportunities, foster cohesion within nations and promote
solidarity. Besides, these sectors plays an important role in leveraging efforts to promote and
preserve the natural and cultural heritage of countries (Wut, Xu and Wong, 2021). Pandemic has
created an opportunity to rethink how hospitality and tourist sector interacts with economic
sectors, societies, ecosystem and natural resources. The crisis has affected tourist's management
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perception and travel risk. Hospitality and travel industry hit hard due to the measures taken by
government in order to limit coronavirus. The challenges which is faced by hospitality and travel
companies are re-opening challenges, low occupancy, renewed lock-downs, health and wellness,
technology, price elasticity and many others (Cassells and et. al., 2020). These are the
challenges which influence the profitability and growth of business. Hospitality and Travel
industry mainly face issues of re-opening as they have to attract large number of people by
ensuring their safety and health. The other challenge which is faced by industry is low
occupancy, if they restart the business one of the major concern for hospitality and travel
industry is very low occupancy rates. Price is another issue for hospitality and travel industry,
customer generally get attracted with low price and high quality services. Due to crisis, there is a
massive impact on the livelihoods of people as their jobs are at risk and also the presence of
tourist and staff get reduced.
Hospitality and Travel industry face huge impact due to COVID 19 as the profitability
and performance of business get influenced. In pandemic, hospitality, travel and leisure industry
is focusing on the health and safety of staff and customer. The Crisis has made people more
conscious about the safety and hygiene. They are more focused about hygiene and safety need in
hotels, public transportation and recreational sites. Pandemic has influenced travel decision of
tourist and their safety due to which the growth and profit margin of company decreases.
Hospitality, Leisure and Travel industry also shut their business because of the rules and
regulation imposed by government. They are contributing their best efforts in making people safe
through spreading of disease (Cheung and et. al., 2021). The management of hospitality and
travel business framed the strategy in order to cope up with COVID 19 pandemic and also they
are updating their policies according to the pertinent authorities. They are focusing on creating
and implementing the plan for preventing transmission according the guidelines imposed by
local authorities and government. Hotels, restaurant and travel companies are also mitigating the
health impact on staff and tourist by supporting health authorities in tracing contacts and
managing cases. Hospitality companies are providing clear guidelines to their employees
regarding how to communicate the action plan to customers and ensure that everyone must be
aligned towards the purpose. They must also provide document and videos in order to establish
clear information among customers and staff. The employees of hospitality and travel companies
are required to comply with cleaning conditions in line with sanitation standards and personal
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hygiene. Industry is also using necessary equipment so that they can safe employees and guest
from COVID 19 disease. Vehicles which are used by staff during arrivals and departure of guest
are disinfected before and after each service (Lim and To, 2021). Hospitality and Travel
Industry has offered pandemic and hygiene protocols in different areas of guest and staff and
also implement safe physical distance rule in order to prevent customer and employees from
disease.
Hospitality and Travel industry has taken many precautions for dealing with the impact
of COVID 19 disease. The industry is slowly recovering as Hospitality and travel business are
expected to make substantial changes in their operational activities in pandemic business
environment. Priority of hospitality and travel industry is health and safety of employees and
guests, so that they can enhance the willingness of customers to patronize their business. The
industries are forming rigorous strategies to make up for the difficulties and losses faced from
past months (Smart and et. al., 2021). In order to prepare for the challenges, it is important for
the hospitality and travel industry to ensure full compliance with safety regulations. In hospitality
industry, the first priority of hotel is to think of logistic rather than marketing, remote working
and diversification. If hospitality and travel industry fails to follow the safety adherence related
to COVID 19 it creates a negative impact on the brand image and reputation of business. They
must put precautionary measures and maintain social distancing and hygiene in workplace.
Companies must also stock up on protective equipment for employees like hand gel, sanitizer
and gloves. Hospitality and travel industry must boost motivation and morale of staff and guest
so that they feel confident that they are in safe environment. They should also create
contingencies for supply chains as due to COVID 19 supply chains have been disrupted. The
industry must also provide remote working facility to their employees so that they can give
productive outcomes at the time of COVID 19. The industry must also implement latest
technology by adopting contactless check in and check out facility and also provide privilege of
paying through phone at check-out (Yeh, 2021). Hospitality and Travel industry must also sue
higher bar pressure dry stream cleaners in order to create safe working environment for
employees and customers. It is important for industry to use electrostatic sprayers so that they
can disinfect the workplace areas. Organisation must also focus on welcoming their staff with
wellness kit for personal use, packages and luggages should be sanitised using UV technology at
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the time of arrival. Through these technology, company can improve their business performance
and also attract large number of customer towards the business.
CONCLUSION
From the above information it is being concluded that COVID 19 has created a great
impact on the process and functioning of business. The Hospitality and Travel industry was
hitted hard due to the outbreak of pandemic. These industries have negative impact as compared
to other industries due to travel bans, flying restriction and forced closure of restaurant and bars.
There are various precautions which need to be taken by hospitality and travel industry in order
to cope up with the impact of the respective outbreak of disease. They can focus on areas and
sitting groups in public areas by rearranging with the consideration of safe physical distances.
Hospitality and Travel industry is also using contactless POS machines within certain limits for
payments and machines will be constantly disinfected. Companies are also using protective gear
including gloves, mask and PPE kits for all associates. Hospitality and Travel industry can focus
on checking regular temperature of guest, associates and partners. Thus, hospitality industry can
implement these instrument in order to attract large number of customer.
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REFERENCES
Books and Journals
Cassells, R and et. al., 2020. Potential job losses in the COVID-19 pandemic. Bankwest Curtin
Economics Centre COVID-19 Research Brief, 2, pp.1-5.
Cheung, C and et. al., 2021. The impact of COVID-19 pandemic on the psychological needs of
tourists: implications for the travel and tourism industry. Journal of Travel & Tourism
Marketing, 38(2), pp.155-166.
Lim, W. M. and To, W. M., 2021. The economic impact of a global pandemic on the tourism
economy: the case of COVID-19 and Macao’s destination-and gambling-dependent
economy. Current Issues in Tourism, pp.1-12.
Pillai, S. G., 2021. COVID-19 and hospitality 5.0: Redefining hospitality
operations. International Journal of Hospitality Management, 94, p.102869.
Smart, K and et. al., 2021. COVID-19 impacts, coping strategies, and management reflection: A
lodging industry case. International Journal of Hospitality Management, 94, p.102859.
Wut, T. M., Xu, J. B. and Wong, S. M., 2021. Crisis management research (1985–2020) in the
hospitality and tourism industry: A review and research agenda. Tourism
Management, 85, p.104307.
Yeh, S. S., 2021. Tourism recovery strategy against COVID-19 pandemic. Tourism Recreation
Research, 46(2), pp.188-194.
Zhong, L and et. al., 2021. Tourism crisis management: evidence from COVID-19. Current
Issues in Tourism, pp.1-12.
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