Winter could still throw a COVID-19 curveball as we move indoors, but there are some positive signs in the tourism and travel industry.
Executives at IHG Hotels & Resorts say they’re encouraged by the business environment and the third quarter performance of their hotels, especially in the U.S. The website Hotel News Now quotes Paul Edgecliffe-Johnson, chief financial officer and head of group strategy, as saying occupancy and average daily rate in some markets this summer were back to 2019 levels.
According to the latest Longwoods International tracking study of American travellers, the drop in new cases, hospitalizations and deaths from coronavirus is boosting confidence in present and future travel. Only 27% of travellers report the pandemic would greatly affect their travel in the next six months, down from 36% in early September. And the percentage who changed their upcoming travel plans due to COVID-19 fell from 59% two months ago to 48% in the latest survey.
“The latest numbers from our U.S. traveller research are encouraging,” said Amir Eylon, President and CEO of Longwoods International. “As we have seen throughout the pandemic, traveller sentiment tends to track closely with the perceived state of the virus throughout the country – the more progress made against COVID-19, the stronger the demand for and confidence in travel.”
On the other hand, a story on the website trcglobalmobility.com suggests business travel may never return to its former, robust self. Here’s what they had to say on their blog the other day.
“IdeaWorks, an airline consulting firm … expects that 19-36% of business travel will not return. Likewise, McKinsey says that 20% of business travel is unlikely to return, and another 60% is potentially expendable.”
In an interview with Forbes, KLM managing director and CFO Erik Swelheim sounded an optimistic note.
“We see business travel slowly returning, especially now that the USA and Canada have reopened their borders,” he said. “It’s clear though that leisure travel leads the way. During the summer, our flight loads were close to 80% with regions like the Caribbean, Mexico and the Middle East developing quite well.
“Traffic to Asia remains low, but all along our strategy has been to maintain as much of our network as possible,” Swelheim said. “We don’t have a crystal ball, but our estimate is that in 2023-2024, business travel will return to 2019 traffic levels.”
Finally, in a story posted at thehustle.com, Kayak CEO Steve Hafner said travel will “definitely” return to previous levels.
“We’re seeing pent up demand for travel and dining, and any time restrictions are lifted, we’ve seen business come roaring back – especially in leisure. When President Biden announced a lift on travel restrictions, we saw an immediate spike in Europe searches. Before things fully return to normal, we expect to see more of the trends that have emerged over the last two years, including more activity in driving markets, more local trips, and outdoor markets.”
The Drake Hotel in Toronto. Photo courtesy Drake Hotel.
DRAKE HOTEL TORONTO: NEW WING OPENS DECEMBER 1
The Drake Hotel sparked a sensation in Toronto when it opened 17 years ago. They’ve built a new, modern wing next door and will open it to the public on December 1. Bookings are now being accepted for the new wing, which has 32 rooms in a five-story building. Hotel owners say the property features “imaginative public spaces and cultural amenities,” with “a design that provides relaxed comfort, encourages curiosity, and holds many surprises.”
KING BLUE HOTEL TORONTO OPENS
The King Blue Hotel opened on King Street West in downtown Toronto this week. It’s a beautiful historic building, with the front-facing exterior built from the original six stories of the Canadian Westinghouse Company building. It’s the first hotel in downtown Toronto for Northland Properties and features 118 guestrooms, seven of them suites. The feel is sleek and luxurious, and there’s a stunning indoor pool. It’s located in the heart of the Entertainment District at King Street and Blue Jays Way. You could now also call it the Hotel District, as the Hyatt Regency is right across the street on King, while Bisha Hotel Toronto and the Soho Metropolitan are just around the corner. Right behind King Blue is the Le Germain Hotel on Mercer Street, where they’re also building the Nobu hotel and condos. There’s also a Marriott Residence Inn a block south on Wellington Street.
The Muir Hotel, Halifax.
MUIR HOTEL HALIFAX: A NEW LEVEL OF LUXURY
Opening December 10, Muir, an Autograph Collection hotel, will welcome guests to a refined, distinctly Nova Scotian hospitality experience in Halifax. Muir is the cornerstone of Queen’s Marque, a new urban waterfront district in the centre of downtown; inspired by the enduring spirit, culture and character of Nova Scotia.
“Striking a rare balance between tradition and modernity, Muir is the physical and spiritual manifestation of a modern Nova Scotia, connecting guests to this place and its people through the art of architecture and design,” said Scott Armour McCrea, president and CEO, The Armour Group.
The interiors and furnishings are courtesy of Studio Munge, a Toronto design group that has done remarkable work in a number of hotels. There’s a private, in-house art gallery and the hotel is right on the water, offering “intimate and immediate ocean views from virtually all the hotel’s 109 rooms and suites. The smallest room is 379 square feet, so there’s plenty of room.
Throughout the property, forms portray a contemporary marine, wharf-like design. At Muir’s entrance, guests are welcomed by the “Light Chocks,” an architectural art installation featuring a pair of glowing columns incorporating abstract Fresnel lenses, similar to those used at the iconic Sambro lighthouse.
A HAWAIIAN CLASSIC: FOUR SEASONS HUALALAI RENOVATION
The Four Seasons Resort Hualalai on Hawai’i Big Island announces the culmination of its over $100M property-wide renovation with the unveiling of its top three villas—Hawaii Loa Presidential Villa, Makaloa Villa and Ho`onanea Villa—the largest and most luxurious villa accommodations in Hawaii. These villas are the epitome of the Resort’s signature Specialty Suite program, featuring twelve of the Resort’s bespoke accommodations with exclusive benefits and inclusions. The only Forbes Five-Star and AAA Five-Diamond Resort on the Island of Hawaii, Four Seasons Resort Hualālai’s multi-million-dollar renovation marks the Resort’s largest renovation since its debut 25 years ago. The transformation includes an enhancement of all guest rooms and suites; a new, elevated infinity pool and lounge deck at King’s Pond, Hualālai’s 1.8-million-gallon swimmable aquarium; the Kumu Kai Marine Center; a new gourmet poolside menu from Executive Chef Richard Polhemus; a transformation of the signature Hualālai Golf Course;and the launch of the Hualālai Golf Hale, a 3,000 square-foot instruction, practice and entertainment facility—the only facility of its kind in Hawaii. Helmed by San Francisco-based BAMO, the design firm perfectly captured the authentic Hawaiian experience and beloved spirit of Hualālai.
A REDESIGNED CLASSIC NEAR PALM SPRINGS
JW Marriott Desert Springs Resort & Spa is unveiling a multi-million-dollar redsign. It’s the largest resort in the town of Palm Desert, just south of Palm Springs. It’s set on 450 acres of vibrant desert gardens, with breathtaking mountain views and signature lakes.
Every detail is thoughtfully re-crafted, from the magnificent lobby to the 884 guestrooms, including 101 suites and the event venues. This reinvention also includes the debut of The Sinatra Ballroom–—the largest indoor event space in the Greater Palm Springs area. The hotel features one of SoCal’s largest spas, two championship golf courses, a tennis club, electric boat rides on 18 acres of lakes and waterways, a plethora of restaurants and even a bird conservation program. JW Marriott Desert Springs also just debuted the JW Entertainment Zone, including an arcade game room, skee-ball, duck bowling, virtual reality games and seasonal activities. Future renovation phases will include spa redesign and dining outlet updates. The resort features 884 newly designed guest rooms—including 101 luxury suites— featuring stylish hardwood floors, modern furnishings, plush bedding, and mountain-inspired, silhouette murals, all in new shades of blue, grey and crisp white. The bathrooms feature quartz vanities, rain-style showers and more than 300 rooms offer free-standing, contemporary soaking tubs.
