Hoteliers eager to see the return of good times:
IAN STALKER
Those in the hotel trade are keeping busy during the coronavirus pandemic, even if they have few or even no guests and in one case not even having a hotel now that spring and its rising temperatures have arrived.
The hotel industry, like other sectors of the tourism trade, is finding the goings tough these days, but those working in it still are hard at it, preparing for the days when guests begin checking in en masse again.
Travel Courier will now introduce you to some of those eagerly preparing for the return of your clients:
Rick McCauley, Barcelo Hotel Group
Rick McCauley, who carries the flag for the Barcelo Hotel Group in this country, has every confidence that, in the words of George Harrison, all things must pass.
And that includes the gloomy tourism times resulting from coronavirus.
“We all know our industry is resilient and will bounce back and all your clients are going to want to travel again, just to get out of the house and find a beautiful resort in the sunny south,” says McCauley, whose company has many properties in sun spots.
“For us here at Barcelo Hotel Group it is as busy as ever, even though most of our hotels are closed, but we want to be ready for you and your clients when we all get the ‘green light’ to go,” continues McCauley.
Torontonian McCauley — who’s hoping all stay safe — is eager to see the tourism industry restart and his beloved Toronto Maple Leafs return to the ice as well.
“I will be very happy when the boys of winter start playing and the planes are flying again,” he adds.
Samantha Steckbeck, Oberoi Hotel Group
Samantha Steckbeck in some cases goes the high-tech route when contacting colleagues during the coronavirus pandemic and in other cases is somewhat old school.
Steckbeck, with India’s upscale Oberoi Hotel Group, normally begins her work day very early with a number of conference calls with the team in India, the UK, and Morocco, where Oberoi recently opened a hotel.
“Often it includes updates on coronavirus and any new news to share about groups or reservations to be moved to alternative dates and feeling connected as a team before we start the day,” she says. “Connectivity seems to be the one normalizer, no matter whom you speak to — clients, industry friends, colleagues and every part and region of the world. We are all learning new skills and embracing the time to learn and master them knowing that this too shall pass.”
Next for Steckbeck are coffee, a walk with her dog, email correspondence and reaching “out to clients that we have not connected with” yet, this time using the phone, rather than email. “We all seem to find these ‘old fashioned’ calls therapeutic and they can last longer than you think. We share industry news, best practices and really build the rapport and support that the travel industry needs, and perhaps we have not had the time to really connect, laugh and advise a bit.”
One recent upbeat development for Steckbeck was receiving photos from a participant on a fam trip she took to India some 10 years ago.
Meanwhile, Steckbeck has some “pro tips” for women during this time of soaring Zoom use.
“Team viewer meetings require listening, empathy, out-of-the-box thinking for solutions… and a bit of clean hair and lip gloss.”
Frederic Johansen, Hotel de Glace
Frédéric Johansen is still is doing work for a hotel that no longer exists.
Johansen is with Quebec’s Valcartier Resort, which in turn is home to the famed Hotel de Glace (Ice Hotel), which saw its season — and the structure itself, which was demolished — come to a planned end earlier this year with the end of winter.
Now, he and his colleagues have to look ahead to next winter and the hotel’s cold-weather reappearance.
“We are a few employees working from home on a part-time basis,” Johansen says. “It’s really important for me to stay active in my work development and stay in touch with my clients, which I can easily do from home. Also important to be aware of all the daily announcements from the tourism industry. For us at Valcartier Resort, it is still too early to announce any official reopening date. The high management team is working hard on all the best scenarios, first for us the employees, but also for all the people like me for whom their first step out will be travelling! Yes, there are lots of negative effects for the whole tourism industry in this crisis but we have to be proactive in all aspects, jumping on any new occasions in terms of this new era of travels. Being positive is the only possible word in these hard times. It’s going to be a really nice opportunity in my opinion to create new local itineraries for travelelrs who’d like to discover our beautiful Quebec.
“The best thing about our resort is that we are a destination where you can spend a few days on site and within the area. Valcartier Vacation Village is very well known for its winter experience but we also have a ‘must-go ‘summer destination with over 600 campsites. That’s where we have to put our efforts at the moment. Outdoors activities, of which we have lots to offer.”
Johansen also has time for his many and varied interests, including music, sports, cooking and at times caring for his girlfriend’s energetic six year old.
He gives a “big thumbs up” to all who played a role in this past winter’s ice hotel, which was the 20th version and which he thinks was the best yet.
And he’s looking forward to its return. “It makes me smile just thinking we will have a completely new edition next year. Stay positive, everything will be just fine!” he states.
Javier Martinez, Palmaïa — The House of AiA
Javier Martinez continues to put his time to constructive use.
The general manager of Palmaïa – The House of AïA, a new beachfront Riviera Maya retreat that offers “immersive jungle-and-beach experiences”, is living at the property, staying in close contact with staff.
“As a GM, it is very important that I am there for all my team members and here to support them through these times and be the example of leadership on the front lines,” he says. “My main role at this moment is to show my team how to develop new skills and how we can reinvent ourselves. As a leader, I need to support them in these hard times and show them that we are all in this together. Also, I am spending plenty of time creating and reviewing with my leaders our safety and hygiene protocols and procedures since travel will be different after COVID-19. We need to make sure that guests feel safe and comfortable when they come back to our resort in the near future.”
Martinez says his life as a hotelier is a busy one but he makes sure to set aside time for family and exercise as well, now combining the two. “Before I used to go running by myself and now I can go running with my wife every day, which is very nice. We have more quality time together and we have discovered that there is not much we really need, we just need each other. Also, we walk our puppy on the beach daily and I really enjoy listening to the sound of the waves in the ocean. It´s spectacular. Furthermore, I am studying luxury management, which is something I love, and that helps me to always be updated on the new trends of the market.”
Martinez says all of us should now work on becoming better human beings, adding “this new reality has changed me.
“We have learned that no matter who you are or what you have, being healthy and caring about our family and friends is our number one priority.”
