In a recent report, Deloitte asks if the new-coronavirus pandemic is the black swan event that will force companies to reexamine the global supply chain. The U.S. hotel industry’s procurement specialists are dealing with a mixed bag. Some are scrambling to get supplies to properties that remain open while others see hotel development and renovation projects moving along as brands opt for Plan B in obtaining design-standard FF&E. In this episode, Lodging Leaders continues its Special Report on the Coronavirus by examining the crisis’s impact on the hotel supply chain.
The Hunter Hotel Investment Conference will be the industry’s first large event to be held during the coronavirus pandemic. The Atlanta event will be a hybrid format of in-person and virtual access, also an industry first. Lee Hunter, chairman of the conference, knows the level of expectation is high among other conference planners as well as industry professionals eager to network after more than a yearlong hiatus. Episode 316 of Lodging Leaders podcast features Hunter as he tells what it takes to re-launch the industry’s conference circuit amid the COVID-19 outbreak.
The coronavirus crisis has dramatically altered the traditional competitive set most hotels use to benchmark their business performance. During the pandemic, properties have reduced services; they’ve closed either permanently or temporarily; or they’ve transitioned to alternative uses by contracting out to essential travelers or social agencies in search of housing. Episode 315 explores the genesis of the hotel industry comp set and how the COVID-19 outbreak has changed the strategic business tool. This report is part of Long Live Lodging’s ongoing coverage of the coronavirus crisis and its impact on the hospitality industry.