NEW YORK, N.Y. – At least for now, masks are not quite as prevalent and bookings are heading in the right direction. Optimism seems to be in the air, but HX: The News figured it was time to ask and see if the feeling was widespread. The question is simple: What is your level of optimism for 2022 and why do you feel that way? Here’s what we found.
“We are incredibly optimistic for 2022. The hotel industry has been hard at work cross-training and upskilling its workers. Properties are cleaner and safer than ever before, and we know people are ready to travel again and return to their favorite hotels.” — Jennifer Bonilla, sales manager, Hotel & Lodging, American Hotel & Lodging Educational Institute (AHLEI), Orlando, Fla.
“In 2022 we expect things to pick up fairly quickly. Toward the end of Nov 2021 the travel industry was starting to thrive again with the reopening of the US borders to Europe. Countries are learning to live with Coronavirus for good and are imposing fewer restrictions. For us, our phone systems allow fully flexible remote and office-based working with apps and handsets to cover both scenarios. We are seeing a huge uptake of our cloud-based systems as companies realize that it’s not easy or always possible to run on traditional phone systems when remote working is involved.” — Luke Chaplin, CEO, The Comms Guys
“We at Logistics Plus remain cautiously optimistic about 2022 since supply chain has become such an important topic for most companies these days, having an experienced, reliable 3PL partner is as important as ever. So, we obviously see that working in our favor as companies, including those in the hospitality industry, strive for more supply chain visibility and flexibility. Admittedly, not sure how things will play out for the Exhibit side of things as I think many people are still a bit apprehensive about large group face-to-face interactions.” — Scott Frederick, vice president of Marketing, Logistics Plus Inc., Erie, Pa.
“We are bullish that there is pent-up demand from the general public to get back out and travel again. Whether that is for work or vacation, people are over the ‘staycation’ and are itching to get back out and have new experiences—visit family, friends, and business partners. The hotel industry will be key to making this a positive and safe experience. We feel the pandemic is reaching a peak and will quickly subside as we head into the spring and summer of 2022. Get ready. The hotel industry is going to see a big spike in bookings coming into Spring Break.” — Richard D. Hewton, president and CEO North American, The Humble Co.
“I maintain a cautious optimism for 2022. Society is opening up and moving forward in different directions. In the United States, we’re seeing New York City and the state of Hawaii leading the way in requiring proof of vaccination to enter dining and entertainment venues. While several cities and regions have followed suit, others are moving in the opposite direction, actively removing visible mitigation efforts.
“Many venues continue to place an emphasis on hygiene theater with an emphasis on surface cleaning, but we now know the virus is spread through tiny aerosol particles. It would be helpful to focus attention on new HVAC and air filtration systems rather than plexiglass dividers. It sounds very retro for a hotel to promote its new air conditioning system, but it would be a sign of the times.
“I see positive developments on the foodservice end of the industry. For example, I’m aware of many foodservice design firms that are hiring. And foodservice equipment manufacturers continue to update and add to their lines. These signs that the industry is forging ahead fuel my optimism. More cautiously, though, the overall F&B industry is still mired in supply chain issues that affect everything from kitchen equipment to the food on the menu. Attracting and retaining service workers is still a challenge. Full recovery remains elusive, but indications are that we’ll get there eventually.” — Kevin Kochman, owner, Kochman Consultants Ltd., Orlando, Fla.
“The pandemic recovery will be a marathon, not a sprint, and 2022 will certainly continue our slow but steady journey back to both wellness and ‘wealthness.’ Yes, hotel owners will have to deal with inflation, supply chain delays, disease variants, labor shortages, and other issues. The difference is that for the past two years, we had to accept uncertainty but now we have learned to manage uncertainty. While there will be a lot of talk about COVID tests, the biggest test for hoteliers will be the test of our patience as we start the third year of the pandemic.” — Bijal Patel, CEO & principal, Coast Redwood Hospitality and immediate past chairman, California Hotel & Lodging Association
“I feel very optimistic for 2022, especially for the second half. We have become better at adapting to the different COVID variants and realize that we all need to move forward. The vaccine/booster will really help us overcome this as they become more effective and more people take them. This goes to show you that we are very resilient and want to get back to normal as soon as possible. I think business travel will slowly start to recover as companies realize that face-to-face still makes a big difference. Leisure travel has been strong and will continue to be strong due to the pent-up demand over the last 24 months. People are simply tired of this pandemic, and we will have some permanent adjustments, but we are ready to start traveling.” — Vinay Patel, CEO, Fairbrook Hotels, Chantilly, Va.
“2022 is shaping up to be very active for travel and hospitality. Herd immunity and improved healthcare for the pandemic is allowing us to move around more freely. The supply chain delays and labor shortages seem to be the last two hiccups to overcome. Look to technology to assist us with these challenges. People are looking to get out of their homes and have fun. Travel and entertainment will be the big winners this year.” — Kip Serfozo LEED ID&C AP, WELL APm design director eastm CINI • LITTLE INTERNATIONAL, INC., Atlanta