Nejnovější zprávy z celého odvětví

covid-19-landing-page-banner3
hong kong image - long3

Stockhouse – Booking.com Reveals Nine Predictions For The Future Of Travel

October 20, 2020

Booking.com has combined research from more than 20,000 travelers across 28 countries to reveal nine predictions for the future of travel – in the coming year and beyond.

Hospitalitynet – How to keep your direct guests and steer traveler booking motivations away from the OTAs?

October 20, 2020

Max Starkov discusses some tactics hoteliers can deploy to neutralize the advantages OTAs have post crisis, hold on to their direct guests, and ultimately outsmart the OTAs.

Ehotelier – A case study in the hotel-office model through Roger Smith

October 7, 2020

The Roger Smith hotel in New York has repurposed some of its space into temporary office space for those looking to escape their homes and a change of scenery. Something to consider for any hotel. 

E-Insights – Global tourist numbers down 65%


September 16
, 2020

International tourist arrivals plunged 93% in June when compared to 2019, with the latest data from the World Tourism Organization showing the severe impact COVID-19 has had on the sector.

Forbes- New Google Search Features Make It Easier To Find COVID-19 Travel Updates August 13 , 2020 Search results will now display the percentage of flights and hotels in a given destination to help users know what travel companies are operating and the trends for that region over the last 180 days.

Phocuswire – Technology and governments (sorry) have vital roles to play in tourism’s recovery

August 11, 2020

Phocuswire analyses a new report by McKinsey consultancy on the current worldwide outlook in terms of the tourism sector. What can we do now to plan for the future?

Business Traveller- Accor launches  Hotel Office concept  August 6, 2020 Faced with low demand for its hotel rooms over the summer, Accor has launched a Hotel Office concept allowing workers to make daytime bookings and use the rooms for work.

Asian Hospitality – Hotstats suggests alternative uses for hotels closed by Covid-19

August 4, 2020

SITTING IDLE IS no way to make money, and that applies to hotels left empty, or nearly empty, as the COVID-19 pandemic causes occupancy levels to plummet.

Revinate – Five Changes to Travel to Keep in Mind as you Reopen Your Hotel

July 16, 2020

Hotels reopening and people returning to travel signals that life is slowly starting to return to normal. As hotels work through their reopening strategies, here are five of the biggest changes to keep in mind.

Travel industry wire – Global Airline Recovery Delayed As International Travel Remains Locked Downt

July 28, 2020

The International Air Transport Association (IATA) released an updated global passenger forecast showing that the recovery in traffic has been slower than had been expected.

Event Manager Blog – Are You Ready for Post-Lockdown Events? Here Is What They Look Like

July 27, 2020

Business events are making a timid comeback with a whole new set of rules and recommendations from international and local health organizations. This is an exploration of how events will be different going forward.

Revinate – Building Guest Confidence: Making Hospitality Safe

July 22, 2020

eCornell hosted a webinar about a topic that many hoteliers are thinking about as they begin to reopen: building guest confidence during Covid-19. Revinate summarises the key takeaways from the event.

E-insights – Road to recovery through Revenue Management

July 15, 2020

The recovery is unlikely to resemble anything we’ve seen previously and hotels that can adopt flexible and innovative revenue management tactics will emerge on top. Here are some key points for a recovery plan.

Travel Industry Wire – Traveler Survey Reveals COVID-19 Concerns

July 8, 2020

The International Air Transport Association (IATA) released public opinion research showing the willingness to travel being tempered by concerns over the risks of catching COVID-19 during air travel. 

Triptease – Is This the End of the Single Meeting Business Trip? June 2, 2020 The days of traveling for a single meeting could soon be numbered as the pandemic shifts priorities and budgets when it comes to corporate travel. The lone meeting may soon be relegated to an extravagance of the past.

ehotelier – COVID-19: Insights on Travel Impact –  Signs of Increased Travel Intent in Some Markets June 1, 2020 Flight searches and bookings remain down overall, however we are beginning to see positive signals that travel intent is improving in some markets that have announced an easing of travel restrictions.

Hotel Online  -5 Key Points on Europe Hotel Performance, 21 May

May 22 , 2020

STR COVID-19 Webinar Summary.As occupancy of open hotels in Europe has dropped dramatically, Tbilisi posted the highest occupancy level in April (25%) followed closely by London (23%).

JLL – Redesigning hotels to welcome back guests              May 21, 2020 Plexiglas shields at check-in counters and buffet lines, sealed hotel rooms, bar seats one meter apart: Welcome to the new hotel experience.These are just some of the efforts hotel groups are introducing.

Phocuswire – Immunity passport debate shows we need a trusted guardian for digital identities May 18, 2020 A „proof-of-immunity“ that could be certified by a national health authority following a test for Covid-19 antibodies, could drastically improve the industry’s fortunes whilst re-opening international travel for a growing number.

Yahoo News -Hotel buffets on the chopping block in post-coronavirus travel

May 12 , 2020

Contactless check-in and reduced breakfast buffets are among some of the new measures that will be adopted by Europe’s biggest tour operator, in a strong sign of what’s to come in packaged holiday travel.

CNN- What will staying in a hotel look like in the near future? May 7, 2020 While pandemic-era policies are still being developed at hotels around the globe and will no doubt vary widely, it’s safe to say that guests will see big changes the next time they check in anywhere.

Weforum- Here’s what travelling could be like after COVID-19 May 6, 2020  For the industry to recover, travellers will need to feel safe and confident that their health is protected.There will be a shift to touchless travel and a new health safety regime, supported by digital tools

The Irish Times – Temperature checks for guests planned for Fitzpatrick Hotels in New York May 5, 2020 Irish hotelier John Fitzpatrick is planning a series of changes to how his two hotels in New York operate in preparation for the lifting of lockdown restrictions currently in place.

Skift- Vienna Airport to Offer $200 Coronavirus Tests to Bypass Quarantines May 3 2020  Passengers arriving at the airport have been required to present a health certificate showing a negative COVID-19 result which is no older than four days, or go into quarantine. Is this the new normal?

ehotelier – Thermal imaging and its potential effect on the travel and hospitality sector May 1, 2020 First fielded during the 2003 SARS epidemic, thermal fever screening systems use cameras that detect the infrared energy invisible to the human eye.The demand for this tech is going to be greater than ever before.

Skift- European Destinations Attempt to Salvage Summer Season April 23, 2020  International travel is expected to drop 39% this year. That is catastrophic for an industry that accounts for more than 10% of global gross domestic product (GDP) and employs some 320 million people.

ehotelier – Rate parity or disparity?  

April 21, 2020

it is crucial for hotels to regain control over their distribution channels. This article explains the different distribution channels of any hotel in a simple format, and represents part one of a two-part article.

Travel Weekly – Accor launches Covid-19 cleaning certification April 17, 2020 Accor hopes the certification scheme will help reassure customers and employees that appropriate standards and cleaning protocols have been met as coronavirus restrictions are lifted and businesses reopen.

CNN – These countries are reopening after coronavirus — here’s how they’re doing it April 16, 2020 These nations are among the first in the West to start feeling their way gradually out of the limits on daily life imposed by governments to curb the spread of the coronavirus.

Phocuswire – Five coronavirus recovery strategies for the tourism industry April 7, 2020 Destination specialist Doug Lansky looks at recovery strategies for travel. Better insurance & access to healthcare will make people more likely to travel again.

Triptease – Cautionary tales and stories of success from recovering markets  March 31, 2020  A rapid recovery after COVID-19 could be on the cards but the future could still be full of many unforeseeable ups and downs.

OTA Insight- Where do we go from here? A look at the uncertain future ahead

March 31, 2020

None of us knows how this will play out. The bounce-back will definitely happen. It’s just a question of when – and how to plan for recovery given the possible scenarios.

Google – CEO Sundar Pichai announces $800 million commitment to support businesses and crisis response March 27, 2020 Google responds to crisis with a new $800+ million crisis fund. This fund includes $340 million in Google Ad credits available to all SMBs with active accounts over the past year.

Duetto – STR- Hotels in Europe should still plan for demand this summer March 27, 2020 For hotels in Europe, we’ve hit rock bottom, but that means the only way is up, right? The STR EMEA update webinar gave us great insight into the situation Europe-wide, but with some glimmer of hope.

HSMAI- Hospitality Marketing Efforts Shifting to Regional Level

October 20, 2020

Here is what Marketing Advisory Board (MAB) members had to say about the increasing importance of regional marketing, changes in booking patterns, and how they’re shifting their marketing efforts.

Hospitalitynet – How to keep your direct guests and steer traveler booking motivations away from the OTAs?

October 20, 2020

Max Starkov discusses some tactics hoteliers can deploy to neutralize the advantages OTAs have post crisis, hold on to their direct guests, and ultimately outsmart the OTAs.

Phocuswire – Travel buyers estimate significant reduction in 2021 business travel volumes

October 2, 2020

A survey from the Institute of Travel Management reveals 38% of travel buyers estimate there will be a decline in business travel volumes of between 25% and 50%, while 36% believe volumes could drop between 50% and 70%.

HotelSpeak – Co-Founder of GuestJoy, Annika Ülem, on the Future of Hospitality

September 15, 2020

Annika discussed her experiences with the global pandemic, her views on how hotels can best cope with the situation, and what she sees as the new normal.

Financial Express – Online travel aggregators ramp up offers to beat the drop in business August 10, 2020 OTAs are noticing an uptick in enquiries for localised and regional travel. Additional offers and incentives have been launched to capitalise on this new domestic demand. Something to be aware of.

Phocuswire – Touchless tech: Airports and airlines take steady steps to restore confidence in flying August 4, 2020 IATA now expects full recovery to 2019 levels to be delayed until 2023 – The reality is that it will take more than virus tests and the lifting of restrictions to entice customers back – technology has a huge role to play.

NYtimes – Forget Spas and Bars. Hotels Tout Housekeeping to Lure Back Travelers. August 4, 2020 Hilton has partnered with Lysol, Four Seasons with Johns Hopkins Medicine. But new research shows hotels can be easily contaminated by the coronavirus.

Hotel Online – MICE tourism may never fully recover from COVID-19 July 27, 2020 Meetings, incentives, conferencing and exhibitions (MICE) tourism was one of the first types of tourism to be impacted by the global spread of COVID-19 and it could be one of the last to fully return as international business arrivals are projected to fall by 35.3% in 2020

E-insights – Road to recovery through Revenue Management July 15, 2020 The recovery is unlikely to resemble anything we’ve seen previously and hotels that can adopt flexible and innovative revenue management tactics will emerge on top. Here are some key points for a recovery plan.

Hospitality Net – The Future of Hotel F&B post COVID-19 July 21, 2020 Opinion piece on the future of the hotel F&B sector. Providing quests with high quality guest rooms, food, and drinks is no longer enough. Customers want to live emotions, and they crave experiences.

Ehotelier – How big hotel brands have stepped up their hygiene game July 15, 2020 Explores how hotels can prepare, and step up their hygiene protocols, and what smaller hotels and lodging providers can learn from the best practices of larger hotels who are leading the way?

Hotel Online – Contactless Technology, Hospitality Services, and the Cloud

July 13, 2020

Cloud technology in the hospitality industry is changing the way that hotels, resorts, and gaming organizations serve guests. All without necessarily having to make contact with staff.

PhocusWire – Amid COVID-19, travel brands must ask: How will people get there? July 1, 2020 No matter which sector of the travel industry you are in, whether it is airlines, hotels or tours, you should be asking yourself how people will get to you.

Travel & Leisure- What Luxury Hotel Stays Will Be Like After Coronavirus. May 28, 2020 How sprawling luxury resorts are primed to lead the way into post-pandemic reopening – from Check-in to Check-out.

ehotelier – 5 actions a travel company should take during no demand season May 25, 2020 No demand season doesn’t mean your travel company’s marketing and sales efforts need to stopThese five actions will guide you through how your marketing team can make the most of the low season.

Lonely Planet – 10 ways hotel stays will change after COVID-19 May 20, 2020  As the world slowly opens up again in the wake of the COVID-19 pandemic, our hotel stays are set to be organised differently.

The Guardian – Europe plans a summer staycation after coronavirus lockdowns May 17, 2020 With tourism in Europe representing about 10% GDP, here is the the latest on what France, Italy Spain and Greece are doing to revive their tourism industries for the summer.

Phocuswire – How airports are considering ways to reduce human contact May 13, 2020 Airports are considering how to prepare for a post-COVID-19 air travel environment in order to protect and reassure a public wary of flying.

Skift – Ryanair to Resume 40 Percent of Flights in July With New Rules for Passengers May 12, 2020 Ryanair on Tuesday confirmed it will return to 40% of its planned flight schedule from July 1 and will require passengers to wear face coverings and to ask crew permission to use the toilet.

Skift- Hilton’s Recovery Won’t Depend on People Flying Again: CEO May 7, 2020 Coronavirus crippled the global travel industry, but human behavior in the economic recovery lends itself to a quicker bounce back for hotels over airlines, according to Hilton’s chief executive.

Skift – Hotels in Asia Revise Renovation Designs to Suit Post-Covid World May 5, 2020 It’s back to the drawing board for The Prince Hotel Hong Kong, which is re-sketching its renovation plans in anticipation of changing guest behaviors brought about by the coronavirus crisis.

Skift – China is a first-mover in the global travel recovery 

May 2 , 2020

Chinese travel spiked during the Labor Day holiday but authorities set a 30 percent capacity at major tourism sites.The country recorded more than 23 million domestic tourists on May 1

Travelweek- A buffet may be out of the question, so will minibars: Resorts and more post-COVID-19 April 30, 2020 We may never return to travel as normal, as we understood it before. Things like buffet breakfast may never be seen again. So there’s a lot of things that we need to rethink

Skift- Local Travel to Benefit Most in China’s First Major Holiday Since Coronavirus Season April 28, 2020  The Chinese travel industry has its first chance at a rebound during the upcoming Labor Day holiday. The five-day holiday from May 1 is being seen as a test for the tourism industry.

ehotelier- How to increase repeat guests during a global crisis April 27, 2020 when it comes to strategic decisions to revive a struggling hotel business, focusing on returning guests is more important than ever. Here’s some key things to keep in mind.

ehotelier – Planning for the future: hotel inventory management and distribution

April 23 , 2020

Here are some activities to review how you classify your rooms and configure your product so when things stablise, you will be ready with an optimized inventory.

Skift- Has Coronavirus Upended the Hotel Industry’s Main Performance Metric?

April 20, 2020 An unprecedented downturn calls for a hotel performance metric shakeup, as revenue declines don’t show just how deep the coronavirus downturn in travel really is.

Travel Weekly – Accor launches Covid-19 cleaning certification April 17, 2020 Accor hopes the certification scheme will help reassure customers and employees that appropriate standards and cleaning protocols have been met as coronavirus restrictions are lifted and businesses reopen.

ehotelier- Accor launches day-room bookings use as private offices April 15, 2020  Accor is offering a day-use room package across 10 hotels in Bangkok to guests who need a private office space for the day.

Skift – Preparing for a Post COVID-19 World: 4 Ways Travel Brands Can Learn from Past Events

April 10 , 2020

It’s uncertain what the future holds for the travel industry. But there are some actions that companies can put into place now to prepare for the months and years ahead in a post-COVID-19 world.

Skift – It is April, 2025: What Would Your Letter About the Last 5 Years of Travel Say?  April 6, 2020 This is the question Rafat Ali of Skift posed to the industry. Radical localism was just one theme.  

Microsoft News – How to support boutique hotels during the crisis

March 27, 2020

Hotels are the ultimate bastion of hospitality in the travel industry and have been one of the hardest-hit industries during the coronavirus. Here is a few ways that travelers can help our favorite boutique hotels right now.

PhocusWire – Why the hospitality industry will be starting at point zero when the crisis subsides.

March 16, 2020

Giancarlo Carniani explains how the hotels in Italy are coping, why hoteliers are „furious“ at Booking.com and why the hospitality industry will be starting at point zero when the crisis subsides.

Triptease – Gift cards, staycations and advanced plans: Customer engagement for your recovery March 26, 2020 Triptease share some examples from hotels that are finding ways to use website messaging to drive engagement and bookings during the Covid-19 crisis.

Leonardo – Digital marketing strategies for hotels during COVID-19: how to stay afloat and get ahead March 24, 2020 Leonardo offers seven tips to help you maintain your competitive edge and to pave the way for a strong rebound once the Covid-19 crisis passes

Skift – How Should Hotels Set Room Rates Now and After the Coronavirus Crisis? March 20, 2020 Managing room rates and marketing offers is critical to making the most of a rebound in demand. Hotel will open again and need to be smart about pricing now.

Skift – Google Travel Search Is Unrecognizable as Advertising Dries Up blog March 26, 2020 The dearth of travel advertising because of the coronavirus pandemic has made Google’s pages look almost unrecognizable. There is a silver lining though.

HSMAI – How to Be a Hospitality Sales Leader During COVID-19 March 23, 2020 HMSAI Lifetime achievement award winner Cindy Novotny advises hotel sales professionals on how to keep going during the coronavirus crisis.

Travel Daily Media- Palma reopens and revives tourism with ‘workations’

October 20, 2020

The city of Palma is repositioning itself as a go-to work-hub destination, where travellers can work and holiday at the same time. Great initiative in response to the new way of living and working.

Forbes – Three Ways Hotels Can Pivot To Attract Remote Workers

October 20, 2020

Covid-19 has led many companies to embrace remote work.  A growing segment of remote workers have started using hotels as offices leading to  an interesting change in the way people use hotels.

Phocuswire – Self-service PPE kiosks become the newest addition to hotel lobbies

September 28, 2020

Retail automation company Swyft is partnering with CVS to bring contactless kiosks to hotel lobbies. Typical vending machines will be stocked with items such as masks and hand sanitizer.

E-Insights – Tactics to keep staycations coming

September 15, 2020

Hoteliers will need strong programs in place to motivate leisure guests from the still-critical drive markets to continue to book with them through the coming months. E-hotelier proivdes 5 ideas to make your hotel stand out.

Phocuswire – How cashless payments can help hotels on the road to recovery August 13, 2020 Cashless systems are opening the door for hotels to access a wealth of data that can be used to create seamless, personalized experiences for guests and a fully integrated customer view.

Skift – When Work From Home Turns Into Work From a Hotel Suite: The New Corporate Travel August 13, 2020 Freed from the shackles of the office, the emerging “work from anywhere” trend is tempting for employees — and hotels. Some employers might have a different view. Skift investigates.

Breaking Travel News – Portugal launches Covid-19 insurance to travellers August 8, 2020 Visitors planning a holiday in Portugal can now subscribe to a new travel insurance product, specially adapted to the Covid-19 pandemic. Giving the ability for visitors to travel with more confidence.

Phocuswire- Accor sees super-short booking window emerge, €200M cost-savings put into place August 5 , 2020 Releasing half-year 2020 results, Accor Hotels says 60% of all bookings being made in Europe are for stays within five days.

CNN – Hotel guests are checking in for the long haul July 31, 2020 Forget checking into a hotel for a long weekend or a week. In the wake of Covid-19, travelers around the world are booking stays that last a month or even longer.

Ehotelier – How big hotel brands have stepped up their hygiene game July 15, 2020 Explores how hotels can prepare, and step up their hygiene protocols, and what smaller hotels and lodging providers can learn from the best practices of larger hotels who are leading the way?

E-insights – The COVID generation: Analysis of the impact of COVID-19 on travelers July 24, 2020 The journey to recovery has been harrowing and left lasting scars on a whole generation. E-hotelier outlines the potential changes in the ways each of us interacts with the world and travel for the forseable future.

HospitalityNet – Making Your Hotel Business Future-Ready July 15, 2020 6 key tips and insights for pivoting into ‚adapt and survive‘ mode. The future of this industry promises to be exciting and profitable again as long as hotel owners are ready to reinvent and question past working models.

HospitalityNet – Strong Indications Consumer Confidence Is Slowly Returning (opinion) July 10, 2020 Consumer confidence is slowly returning, with two main trends: short-term booking windows and long-term reservations towards the end of 2021, reports the latest edition of the Duetto Pulse Report.

Triptease – How one budget hotel chain is outperforming the market despite COVID-19 June 15, 2020 Since the beginning of 2020, McDreams has outperformed not only the global average but also the benchmarks set by budget and German hotels. Interesting case study from Triptease.

Yahoo News – (Poll) two-thirds of Britons not planning to travel abroad for the rest of the year June 8, 2020 A YouGov survey of 2,412 adults revealed that the majority of British people are not intending to go abroad anytime soon, as the coronavirus pandemic continues to disrupt travel plans.

PhocusWire – Amid COVID-19, travel brands must ask: How will people get there? July 1, 2020 No matter which sector of the travel industry you are in, whether it is airlines, hotels or tours, you should be asking yourself how people will get to you.

PhocusWire – Hotel distribution post-pandemic. How not to throw caution to the wind June 29, 2020 On the flip side of culling out distribution costs today lies an unexpected opportunity – to regain lost ground from partners, and in particular the online travel agencies (OTAs).

ehotelier – Five changes expected in the hotel industry May 29, 2020  The landscape continues to change rapidly, and while no one can say with any degree of certainty where everything will land, we are starting to see the shape of things to come.

ehotelier – AHLA’s Safe Stay Program endorsed by hospitality leaders May 25, 2020 The American Hotel & Lodging Association (AHLA) announced that hospitality leaders across North America have endorsed Safe Stay, AHLA’s enhanced industry-wide cleaning guidelines.

Skift – Europe Will Reopen With a Mishmash of Travel Restrictions May 24, 2020 With tourism in Europe representing about 10% GDP, here is the the latest on what France, Italy Spain and Greece are doing to revive their tourism industries for the summer.

Metro – Ryanair expects Europe travel surge despite masks, quarantine May 12, 2020 Ryanair is the latest airline to announce measures aimed at reassuring customers they can safely return to planes with compulsory masks by far the most common proposal so far.

Skift -Booking Holdings Sees First Signs of Changing Traveler Behavior Brought on by Pandemic

May 7 , 2020

Booking Holdings officials said they see a shift toward alternative accommodations when travelers are booking stays at least two months in advance. But this trend won’t necessarily stick over the long term.

Skift – Egyptian Hotels Reopen Only to Domestic Travelers and With Strict Conditions May 5, 2020 Egypt’s low-density, domestic-only initial hotel reopening is a model likely to be replicated around the world during the early travel recovery. A model likely to be replicated around the world during the early travel recovery.

Phocuswire – Hospitality reports point to uptick in hotel activity May 1, 2020 For Europe, occupancy is up to 11.6% from a low of 7% a few weeks earlier. And in China, occupancy is also slowly increasing, now above 35%

THN – 6 tactics we can learn from hotels in Sweden who remain open during COVID-19 April 30, 2020 Contrasting sharply with the rest of Europe and beyond, Sweden has only imposed relatively lenient restrictions, meaning that most hotels and restaurants remain open despite the COVID-19 situation

THN – 6 tactics we can learn from hotels in Sweden who remain open during COVID-19 April 30, 2020 Contrasting sharply with the rest of Europe and beyond, Sweden has only imposed relatively lenient restrictions, meaning that most hotels and restaurants remain open despite the COVID-19 situation

Skift – Hilton follows Marriott, Airbnb with cleanliness initiative amid coronavirus pandemic April 28, 2020 Hilton is partnering with the company behind Lysol, as well as the Mayo Clinic, to better ensure cleanliness in its hotels — part of a hygienic industry trend in the wake of the new coronavirus.

ehotelier – Anantara Hotels implements “Stay With Peace of Mind” programme April 27, 2020 Anantara Hotels, with a portfolio of 41 hotels  has announced plans to implement sweeping new health and hygiene measures to reassure travellers of a renewed focus on guest wellbein

Skift – Asia’s Hotels Warming Up to Automation Thanks to Growing Social Distancing Norms April 22, 2020 Automation is likely to gain traction in hospitality as hotels look to re-strategize and implement fresh solutions as social distancing becomes a norm even as lockdowns are eased.

Straits times – Check into these hotels‘ virtual worlds across the globe April 19, 2020 Hotels around the world stay visible with good-life digital content – virtual family dance parties, online poetry and livestreams of baby elephants.

Skift- Booking.com applies for help to pay salaries and cuts advertising spend.

April 16 , 2020

Booking.com has asked for government support as the number of bookings plunges to 15% of those of a year ago. Advertising spend will reduce to $1bn from $5 in 2019

Skift – What Shape Would the Travel Industry Recovery Look Like? April 12, 2020 Depending on how much of an optimist or realist or pessimist you are these days, you can certainly find your travel industry recovery shape in this one slide from McKinsey here.

BTN- Marriott updates cancellation policy to woo travellers April 9, 2020 Marriott International has updated its cancellation policy as it seeks to encourage travellers into booking hotel rooms once the worst of the coronavirus pandemic is past.

Travolution – Under fire OTAs defend ‘Force Majeure’ cancellation policy changes April 3, 2020 Leading OTAs have defended new refund policies after criticism from hoteliers and hospitality providers about changes in terms and conditions due to the COVID-19 crisis.

Skift – UK Hotels Get a Little Lift From Block Bookings for Crisis Workers March 27, 2020 With the world adjusting to new lockdown measures, many hotels are understandably closing. However, the hospitality sector shouldn’t rule out a surge in demand from one type of customer — the crisis worker.

PhocusWire – Expedia will refund guests during COVID-19 outbreak regardless of existing booking policy

March 23, 2020 Expedia group appealed last week to hoteliers to join a worldwide program put in place by the company to assist with the thousands of cancellations from guests due to the COVID-19 coronavirus.

Triptease: Three segments to focus on in your response to COVID-19 March 26, 2020 What the latest search and booking data for hotels in Hong Kong tells us about the segments bouncing back quickest.

Breaking travel news – Singapore rolls out new SG clean scheme March 25, 2020  The SG Clean campaign is a government effort to rally businesses and the public to uphold good sanitation standards and hygiene practices.