The Herman Trend Alert

November 4, 2020

Hotel Hacks for Normal 2.0

Some of my best friends are hoteliers. Not surprisingly, this pandemic has dealt my friends a nasty blow, especially to their bottom lines. Normally, as I travel the world, I take ideas that work in one region and introduce them to another region. Though I covered some of these ideas in an article I wrote for Hotel Executive Magazine back in March or April, these are for now, Normal 2.0.

Offer Unique Experiences

By far, my favorite of these solutions come from Capella Resorts in Singapore. Located on Sentosa Island, this property is a cultural destination. Offering cooking and cocktail-making classes, along with floral-arranging experiences, this resort really understands the value of guest engagement. Their "Heritage and Art Tour" offers unique glimpses into Singapore's past. There is even a "Little Stars Culinary Workshop" that provides children an opportunity to learn to make Cake Pops and decorate cookies. The local Botanical Garden is a great place to explore the local flora. I cannot wait to go. For more information, visit www.CapellaHotels.com/Singapore.

Staycations

The sister resorts of the Grand Lapa Hotel and Resort and the Grand Coloane Resort in Macau have thrived by suggesting that locals enjoy safe staycations, vacations in their own areas and regions. With pools and spas, their local guests have been able to relax and delight in luxury at excellent room rates without taking dangerous airplane flights. To learn more about these beautiful resorts, visit www.GrandLapa.com/ and www.GrandColoane.com/.

Family Game Rooms Next Door

Offering staycations for locals in Bowling Green, Kentucky, USA, the Baymont Inn will soon offer adjacent rooms equipped with game controllers and large screen televisions that will be perfect to keep young gamer guests safe and secure especially on rainy days. With very reasonable rates, we forecast this local hotel will become an attraction for families with children of all ages. To book this Baymont Inn for your family staycation, visit here.

Picnic in the Room

To allow families to avoid the need to eat in the onsite restaurant or leave the hotel to eat, hotels can provide a waterproof tarp or picnic blanket for the bed and families may have their picnic in the room on rainy days. Offer a picnic menu with Fried Chicken or Hamburgers and Hot Dogs, complete with Potato Salad and Cole Slaw, and of course, Apple Pie. If properties do not have open restaurants on site, they can partner with local diners to provide these feasts. Be sure to include a large garbage bag to assist with the clean-up.

Special Occasion Overnights

Encourage locals to celebrate their birthdays and anniversaries with an onsite overnight. Complete the package with an in-room gourmet meal and do not forget to include a bottle of Sparkling Wine or Apple Juice and a cake, inscribed with the celebrants' names and occasion. The in-room dining minimizes the guest's exposure to others.

Cleanliness Theatre

Normally, housekeeping staffs are almost invisible. They keep common areas clean with as little exposure as possible. But in these unusual times, it is reassuring to see cleaning personnel at work. The new term "cleanliness theater" refers to using housekeepers in public areas to reassure insecure visitors that the hotel is dedicated to maintaining a sanitary, virus-free environment where guests may relax knowing they are safe.

I hope you have enjoyed this trip to some of my favorite hotels.

Next Week: The Value of Thinking Like a Futurist in Normal 2.0

Futurists forecasted this and other pandemics. When business leaders listen to futurists, they are able to make better decisions, in this Herman Trend Alert, I focus on the latest research in this field.

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Read this Herman Trend Alert on the web: http://www.hermangroup.com/alert/archive 11-4-2020.html

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