The Coronavirus pandemic has been one that’s brought about shocking knockback effects on many industries, the travel industry being one of the most heavily affected. Not only are there now new rules and restrictions in place, but people’s general mindsets over hotel stays have also changed in a way that’s far more cautious. Travellers are thinking far harder than ever before, before booking personal or business-related visits. That is why its imperative for hoteliers and lodges to begin figuring out of the box to find ways to improve customer trust and foot traffic into the business. Let’s take a look at some brainstormed ideas that could be implemented moving forward into the rest of 2020.
Flexibility Measures
This is a wise time for hotels and lodges to relook at their cancellation policies and perhaps allow greater leniency and understanding for sudden setbacks. Travellers will appreciate being met on a level of empathy and will have more trust in booking a room for next time, knowing that they haven’t been locked into a full financial commitment. It could be helpful to make it known that modifications can be made up to 24 hours in advance of the booking. In times where things are up and down, it could work in the lodges favour to offer upgrades on rooms in case of potential quarantine need, which will certainly appeal to those on business trips who may seek a spacious and comfortable area to get their work done in. Thinking about shifting the strict nature of check-in and check-out times could be ideal to prevent travelers from piling into waiting areas or gathering outside waiting for transportation.
Security Measures
An important part of a hotel’s success right now is great communication with its customers and of course, relaying the correct message. It will be beneficial for both the business and the traveler to have a comprehensive guide of every measure being taken with regards to the current state of things. This should be easy to access as it will be the first thing clients look for when trying to find suitable accommodation harare. You want to answer these questions before they are asked.
Hospitality Measures
Having potential customers feel safe in the hands of a hotel is crucial and even more so these days. Now, we don’t want to state the obvious, but the highest levels of cleanliness and sanitation should be performed by hotels and made clear to the potential clients. This will become the “new normal” so it’s vital to train all staff on these practices. Having clear access to medical resources is a must for all hotels. It’s also a wise move to provide transportation for guests as public transport poses as a high-risk activity during this time.
Everything in this list of measures will aid in forming strong hotel-customer trust and loyalty bonds, which is necessary for ensuring that businesses stay afloat and make it through the rest of the pandemic. At Willow Lodge, we care about building long-standing, trusting relationships with our customers. So contact us to make your booking, and we will ensure that you are well taken care of in all aspects so that you can have a comfortable and relaxing stay in a Harare Lodge this year.