Features

Following the enactment of the Families First Coronavirus Response Act on March 18, 2020, the Department of Labor has clarified which employers will be impacted by the Act and how they can comply with its mandates. Marta Fernandez, hotel lawyer and a partner in JMBM’s Labor & Employment department, has answered some of the most frequently asked questions by employers about the Act which goes into effect on April 1, 2020.

There is no such thing as a post-COVID-19 world. Already, the pandemic has impacted how we will live, work and travel long after the threat has passed. CEO Clayton Reid looks beyond the crisis to project how traveler behavior will shift, and how brands can leverage both short-term marketing strategies and long-term planning.

With some hotels closing altogether and nearly all doing massive furloughs and layoffs, these are certainly trying times financially for our frontline hospitality workers, but it is also a very emotionally challenging moment. It warms my heart to hear all the stories of hotel owners and asset managers doing all they can to provide as much pay as possible to help bridge the gap to unemployment and government assistance.

Number of jobs at risk from COVID-19 pandemic is up to 75 million

he coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic is having a profound impact on the hospitality industry, as travel restrictions, limits on large gatherings, the closure of restaurants and bars and, perhaps most influential, fear of the virus, have brought travel – and most other aspects of hospitality – to a virtual halt.

As a hotel sales trainer, it seems very odd to be writing a train-the-trainer article about how to manage cancellations, yet this is absolutely necessary as the lodging industry has been turned upside down temporarily. Imagine how strange it must be for those who are tasked (and incentivized) for securing revenue are now dealing with a flood of calls and emails about reversing the flow. I’m sure it is time consuming, stressful and heartbreaking, especially when such staff are surely worried about their own job security and health concerns.

Coronavirus will cost the U.S. travel sector 4.6 million jobs by the end of April, according to updated analysis released Wednesday by the U.S. Travel Association. Earlier projections released by U.S. Travel foretold catastrophic losses of $355 billion and 4.6 million travel-related jobs this year. But the latest data shows that $202 billion in direct travel spending and all 4.6 million jobs will disappear before May.

​With Coronavirus (COVID-19) continuing to spread, it’s important for hotels to have an action plan in place that addresses both the current state and the potential future impact if the situation continues to worsen. Overall, your hotel should arm itself with an internal Coronavirus response team which includes a member from every department critical to your business. This team should be responsible for keeping a pulse on the evolving landscape, continually brainstorming adjustments to strategy, and presenting to internal stakeholders to take action. ​

Uncertain times are a catalyst for change, especially within the hospitality industry. Hospitality, after all, has always held a somewhat notorious reputation for being reluctant to change. While other sectors are, by nature, more malleable to new-edge advancements and best practices, our industry often takes its time, testing the waters long before making the commitment to dive in. That is until a global event inspires disruption that simply can't be ignored.

I have a question for you. How do you get leads in this new economy?