‘Domestic traveller is being tapped aggressively by all the stakeholders of the industry’
H&M Services (Hospitality and Marketing Services) is a privately owned, full-service sales and marketing company. With many business relationships established over the years, they are a preferred partner for several standalone as well as hotel chains and work with a diversity of businesses, including spas and resorts, management companies, ownership groups, destination and vacation rentals. Geeta Maheshwari, Founder & Director, H&M Services, shares that they are determined to overcome the challenge with sustained innovation and their continuously evolving best practices
H&M Services comprises a dynamic and multitalented team of travel, marketing, business development and client servicing experts. By harnessing their collective experiences and passion for what they do, they have been to achieve far-reaching success for their hospitality clients and partners by helping them increase their bookings and deliver a superior return on investment. Whether a Start-Up or Grown-Up business, H&M Services is ready, willing and uniquely able to provide the perfect solution
While queries are pouring in for the forthcoming season at some of their properties, Geeta says, “Since the international inbound traffic is severely hit it is expected to have a toll on some of our properties in the states of Karnataka and Kerala. However, with the opening up of the domestic market, we are receiving queries from enthusiastic travellers and we are hopeful that this will help our properties rebound to the preCOVID scale. Furthermore, since the outbound market is exhibiting a downward trend, the travel and tourism industry is hopeful to convert these numbers to domestic travels.”
Recent surveys show that people want to catch up on missed travel opportunities when the crisis subsides. This has led to the hotel and tourism industry hoping for a wave of ‘revenge travel.’ On the mention of revenge travel, Geeta opines, “I honestly feel that this is just a marketing jargon. The hospitality industry is currently touching the bottom. Though people are keen to travel but are being very selective at this stage. Subsequent to the travel restrictions being eased, the initial travel is more or less in the short distances where a traveller preferred mode is by road. People are still sceptical to travel by air for a holiday. We need not give this travel any name but the underlying factor is that the domestic traveller is being tapped aggressively by all the stakeholders of the industry. Needless to mention, the numbers of domestic travellers are huge and can give the desired boost to the industry.”
On asked about how her organisation is responding to the new emerging travel trends? “Well, the new trends are here to stay, at least for the time being. We at H&M Services are innovating our business model to suit the customer and are helping them to tide over these hiccups. We, at our selected properties, have introduced new packages like staycation, self-drive packages, workation packages and many more. These have been well received in the travel industry domain and are being marketed through social media, networking options, etc,” informs Geeta.
Considering that today a guest not only is looking for a safe and secure environment but is also looking for a pleasant and exciting stay, H&M has revolutionised their service designs at selected units thereby ensuring a memorable guest experience in spite of all COVID challenges. They also hope to see a smile on each and every individual they deal with.
Amidst the COVID pandemic raging throughout the world, the silver lining according to Geeta is that domestic tourism is expected to grow leaps and bounds. “International travellers will surely explore new places within their own country. With the decline in the outbound traffic, the domestic travel market can expect substantial gains. Domestic tourism is likely to scale greater heights in the following years. Society as a whole has accepted this as a new normal. People may now be more inclined to organise weddings and other family functions within our country rather than exploring the destinations abroad,” assures Geeta.
At H&M Services, they have always been extremely cautious with hygiene, sanitation and safety of their guests and travellers and their properties as well. The present challenge has strengthened their resolve to tackle it in an effective manner.