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Summary
- Workation and staycation are the new trends being pressed by the hospitality industry that came to a screeching halt amid COVID-19 to rebuild their businesses.
- Significant travel demand is being led by youngsters followed by corporates as they look for trips to nearby destinations for extended their stay after being locked down in their houses.
- High-luxury hotels, powered by rich tourists who have been able to return easily from a recession in the past, or economy hotels with low overhead and snug footprints, are more likely to thrive amid the pandemic than properties with spas and restaurants.
COVID-19 has pushed people to come out of their daily routine and adapt to living in the new normal.
The crisis has led the hospitality industry to bring innovation and modifications in their services as countries reopen gradually after several months of remaining in lockdown and people look for safe ways to return to a normal life.
Workation and staycation are becoming the new buzzwords in 2020 that blends both work and leisure as companies have been extending work from home indefinitely amid spiralling infections.
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The 2 trends are being pushed by many hotels as a short-term remedy to restore their businesses as coronavirus pandemic led the world to cancel vacations, business trips and reunions this year.
Staycation refers to a vacation spent in one's own country rather than going overseas, or one spent in and near one's hometown, enjoying day trips to nearby landmarks, or visiting the region like a local.
Workation is for people who are opting for more extended stays for better privacy as well as luxury to work. It helps the traveller to blur the line between work and leisure.
Hoteliers, homestay, and resort owners are gearing up for this renewed class of tourists armed with laptops and smartphone as work from home continues. A strong Wi-Fi connectivity, a bit of comfort and a lavish dosage of timely and hygienic service are what they require.
The blend of Workation and Staycation
Travel is no longer restricted to peak season and weekends amid COVID-19 pandemic. The work from home situation has provided many people with the opportunity to move to tourist spots or their favourite drive to destinations within the region one resides in.
People are bored of living at one particular place and are opting for a change away from their homes.
Staycation help people to take a break without travelling far and limits the stress of organising a trip by looking for accommodation and packing multiple suitcases. It also helps people to discover the beauty within the local economy that is often left unnoticed and take out time to explore.
While Workation (working + vacation) provides people with the chance to enjoy both work and leisure. The objective behind a working vacation is to work for five days and then enjoy the weekend at a place the individual is staying at.
Image Source: ©Kalkine Group
Many travel companies are exploring the concept of working while staying near your home and making their properties prepared with devoted dorms and workspaces, high-speed internet connection, power supply.
Youngsters want a more comfortable working environment
Many youngsters are looking to book accommodations for more extended stays as they want a change from the WFH module. Many hostel accommodation services have also started investing in new workstations and internet connections at their properties.
Gen Z is becoming more relaxed working in a gig economy and are expected to settle for a staycation. It is also becoming a rising trend as it is an easy way to take a break without travelling too far and is an excellent way to spend a joyful vacation without putting a burden on pockets.
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Millennials and working professionals are looking for opportunities to avail quick breaks around the country to destinations that are situated at long but the drivable distance from their places.
Wellness tourism also gaining attention
Many hotels are also providing customers with wellness tourism apart from workation and staycation to help people in correcting their lifestyle, treat their mind, body, and soul without compromising on their respective work schedules.
Hospitality chains and travel companies have joined hands with healthcare providers to conceptualise safety procedures at various stages of the traveller's journey to assure customers of a safe travel environment.
Tough road ahead
The hospitality industry would need much more than the concept of staycation and workation to keep their companies afloat as countries still grapple with border travel restrictions that eliminate millions of customers.
Luxury hotels, powered by rich tourists who have been able to return easily from a recession in the past, or economy hotels with low overhead and snug footprints, are more likely to thrive.
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Extended stay properties with in-room kitchens could also do well, enticing travellers looking for some isolation. Properties reliant on spas, pools, restaurants, those dependent on conferences and events are likely to struggle more amid the pandemic.
However, hotels can give a certain degree of confidence to their customers by offering flexibility in terms of bookings and cancellations amid any possibility of flight cancellations and border closures.
The hospitality and travel industry believe that the effect of the pandemic would be felt in 2021 also as travel restrictions continue in few countries.
