Decimated hotel industry looks to save its summer
Industry decimated by ban on travel eagerly looks to Phase 3 of restart plan
Two weeks ago, it looked like the summer of 2020 would be a dismal tourism season at Walnut Beach Resort in Osoyoos because of pandemic restrictions.
Since then, bookings for July and August from British Columbians have picked up and put the lakeside property ahead of 2019 sales by this time of the year, said general manager Don Brogan, leaving him “pleasantly surprised.”
It’s a positive sign for Brogan’s 112-suite resort, but it remains a question how widely the experience will be shared as B.C. inches forward with its restart and allows more tourism within the province, though not from outside.
“The second half of last week, so far the beginning of this week, the phones are darn near ringing off the hook for reservations,” Brogan said. “Those are all promising things, so fingers crossed.”
Hotels were never closed, considered an essential service as shelter for essential workers, first responders, vulnerable populations and residents returning to Canada in need of space to self-quarantine, said Ingrid Jarrett, CEO of the B.C. Hotel Association.
But the experience at Walnut Beach isn’t one likely to be shared widely in a sector decimated by the closure of Canada’s international borders, discouragement of interprovincial travel, and a ban on large meetings and conventions.
“If one resort says they’re going to do OK, there’s going to be 10 that are very similar that are going to say they won’t,” Jarrett said, “because we don’t know what the demand is (going to be) like this summer.”
Jarrett estimated that about 40 per cent of B.C.’s 1,200 hotels had to close due to the drop in business.
“And the (ones) that stayed open, believe me, they’re not making any money.”
Hotels that have remained open are operating under guidelines set by WorkSafeBC and the B.C. Centre for Disease Control, including sanitizing rooms and common areas, requiring physical distancing, and revising housekeeping standards.
Housekeeping staff can’t clean rooms during a guest’s stay, must leave rooms vacant for three hours after a guest checks out before entering to clean, and must wear personal protective equipment while thoroughly sanitizing the space.
Guests can order room service, but staff must leave trays outside room doors instead of delivering directly to guests. Kitchens must abide by the same COVID -19 rules as restaurants.
Hotels are looking forward to welcoming more customers as increased travel is allowed under Phase 3 of B.C.’s restart plan, Jarrett said.
That’s supposed to begin in June, but remains contingent on the province’s COVID -19 infection rates remaining low.
“As soon as that timing is announced, everybody will breathe a big sigh of relief, I think,” Jarrett said of Phase 3.
Jarrett said it remains to be seen how much people will travel and how welcome they’ll be in some communities, particularly rural destinations that are less equipped to handle an outbreak. Jarrett said the industry really needs domestic tourism, as well as the meeting and convention business to resume.
“We really want to make sure that we do it right the first time,” Jarrett said, and are “able to do our best to save these businesses, because right now there are a lot that are worried about going insolvent and going bankrupt.”
“There aren’t enough people in British Columbia right now to support all of the businesses in tourism and hospitality to be able to survive this summer,” Jarrett said.
British Columbians are being encouraged to “stay close to home” and “explore with care,” in Destination B.C.’s latest advertising campaign.
Kate Colley, new co-owner and operator of the Naramata Inn north of Penticton, said “OK” doesn’t aptly describe conditions, “but there’s definitely pent up demand for people to have some kinds of experiences.”
Colley, a seasoned public relations pro, and her husband, chef Ned Bell, took over the inn in February to begin renovations, with plans to create more of a restaurant/resort property.
Their plan is to reopen on June 5. They have hired a COVID -19 consultant to oversee compliance with WorkSafeBC and disease control regulations.
“If we don’t get this right, one person gets sick on or near or rumoured to be at the Naramata Inn, then it’s going to be very difficult to recover,” Colley said.
The second half of last week, so far the beginning of this week, the phones are darn near ringing off the hook for reservations.