The hospitality industry is witnessing some serious changes in trends this time. Today, they are focusing on providing seamless and exceptional hospitality while ensuring contactless services to the world that coronavirus has changed. Chairman of Claridges Group of Hotels, Suresh Nanda, says, “The pandemic has fostered the speed of the change in the already fast-moving world. This time, the brands did not get time for the technical evolutions and they were forced to embrace the changes in this new world where social distancing is the new normal.”

Brands in the sector are taking the help of some of the highly advanced automation technology including artificial intelligence and the Internet of Things (IoT) amongst others to ensure contactless services. “Before the pandemic was officially announced, almost everything was manual. Now, hospitality is trying to automate things as much as possible and this is the global phenomenon of change,” he says. Earlier, installing smart devices such as voice controls and automatic detectors for lights were signs of technical luxury. Now, it has become the need of the time, and “you might witness this phenomenon during your stays worldwide very frequently.”

Promotion of environmentalism in tour and travel

Suresh Nanda suggests that the new world order will be more sensitive towards protecting nature. “Today, when the whole world has experienced being locked at home, people are expected to become more concerned about environment protection and nature conservation.” He also said that implementation of technology to ensure contactless services are inevitably going to enhance the idea of environmentalism in hospitality. “With automation, it is going to reduce the wastage in energy. Moreover, the players in the sector are going to care about the environment by promoting proper management of resources.”

Vocal for Local

Restriction on international tourism is expected to get continued most of the months of this year as well. Suresh Nanda called it an opportunity for exploring most of the pockets of India. “For all the inveterate travelers, restriction on international tourism is an opportunity to explore India to the fullest. As the Prime Minister of India recently called for being vocal for local, what can be a better opportunity? Travelling locally will not only help you understand your nation better but will also help the local tour and travel businesses economically which is crucial for our hospitality industry as it constitutes the lion’s share in the sector.”

“I would like to take this opportunity to call for a change in trend this time, where I will suggest every youth to travel locally this time,” Suresh Nanda adds.