Traditionally Queensland’s Far North has been a tourism hot spot, with the region worth a whopping $2.5 billion annually. The draw of sites such as the Great Barrier Reef, the Whitsunday Islands and the World Heritage Rainforests bring a flock of tourists each year, however the impact of COVID-19 travel restrictions have devastated the area.
During COVID-19 it is more important than ever that accommodation providers implement thorough cleaning procedures to ensure the safety of their guests. Further, making sure that guests are aware of the efforts been taken to safeguard their health is an essential step in instilling confidence in travelers.
Whilst this pandemic has placed health and well-being at the forefront of consumers minds, topics such as climate change will remain a priority as things return to normal. For accommodation providers finding the balance between sustainable practices and implementing higher hygiene standards may seem difficult, however there is an opportunity for synergy between these seemingly competing priorities.
As a large portion of the Australian workforce transitions to work-from-home arrangements, many employees are going a little stir-crazy spending every day in their homes. Asia-pacific chain Choice Hotels is offering a solution, with the recent roll-out of their ‘work-from-hotel’ option which allows guests to book a room to work in for the day.
As Australian businesses begin to plan for the easing of restrictions, the tourism industry continues to experience uncertainty as opening borders to international travel is still off the table. However, there is hope as new research has found that Australian’s are looking to see a little more of their own country.
