“Humans are hard-wired - normality is habitual and we're seeing people flood back to normality very quickly,” said Roger Allen, during this week’s In Focus podcast for Hospitality Insights.

 

In Focus · A Conversation with Roger Allen, CEO of RLA

 

Takeaway thoughts from the interview can be found at Hospitality Insights and below.

Allen believes the path ahead is becoming more predictable and as the restrictions are eased, consumers are showing less of a regard for internal factors such as the heightened need for hygiene and social spacing and external factors such as the impact on consumer spending and the inability to travel due to restrictions on airlift are what is influencing the return to the real economy.

Turning to resorts and their position in the recovery mix, Allen said: “Resort recovery is dependent on product, the guest profile and the location. With the currently unknown status of airlift, resorts that can serve local or neighbouring markets where access is not airline dependent could do very well this year.”

Responding to whether resorts and hotels will embrace trends around wellness, community and connectivity, Allen said: “Pre-coronavirus it was always considered that resorts needed to be more adaptive and flexible and owners should be looking to employ a more traditional retail model and maximise revenue per square metre. This has been further re-enforced during the pandemic. Whichever elements resorts and hotels chose to include in their product, it must be true to their DNA, be authentic and connect philosophy with operations rather than adapting to trends that come and go.”

On investment opportunities and fire sales, Allen feels that this is dependent on whether there is a summer season and how stable businesses are when the respective government assistance ends. “We haven’t seen any acquisitions or fire sales in the industry, but I believe it is round the corner.”

His hopes for the sector in a post-COVID-19 world include improved partnerships between owners and operators that have been fractured during the crisis and a continuation of the philosophical and purposeful outlook adopted by individuals and society during the crisis.

Concluding Allen said: “Resorts are built on delivering an experiential promise and delivering memories. I think it’s vital for resorts to be philosophical in the message they deliver. Will that continue as resorts start to open, normality resumes and we focus on numbers and heads in beds without a greater sense of purpose? I hope so.”

Roger will be moderating the CEO Panel: Re-Building the Leisure Hospitality Experience during the Resort & Residential Hospitality Forum taking place later this year. For more information on this event, please visit www.hospitalityinsights.com/randr

 

 

News relating to this topic

RLA Global Drives New Developments Amid Cyprus’ Tourism Boom

Sep / 2024

RLA Global’s leadership team, including CEO Roger Allen, Simon Saunders, and Paul Sawford, recently spent a week in Cyprus to oversee major resort and destination development projects as the island experiences unprecedented growth in both tourism and real estate.

RLA Global Drives New Developments Amid Cyprus’ Tourism Boom

Sep / 2024

RLA Global’s leadership team, including CEO Roger Allen, Simon Saunders, and Paul Sawford, recently spent a week in Cyprus to oversee major resort and destination development projects as the island experiences unprecedented growth in both tourism and real estate. Read more

news-article

RLA Global Leads New Hospitality Engagement in Dubai

Sep / 2024

Group CEO Roger Allen and Managing Partner Paul Boldy of RLA Global are spearheading a new project with one of the UAE’s preeminent real estate and hospitality companies.

RLA Global Leads New Hospitality Engagement in Dubai

Sep / 2024

Group CEO Roger Allen and Managing Partner Paul Boldy of RLA Global are spearheading a new project with one of the UAE’s preeminent real estate and hospitality companies. Read more

news-article

Insights relating to this topic

Can Wellness Be Taught to Hotel Guests?

Sep / 2024

Maintaining a wellness lifestyle and increasing demand for access to wellness during travel and finds hospitality uniquely placed. Our VP of Strategic Health & Wellness, Simon Saunders, explores guest expectations, and the how’s and why’s of promoting, influencing, and educating guests’ wellness.

Can Wellness Be Taught to Hotel Guests?

Sep / 2024

Maintaining a wellness lifestyle and increasing demand for access to wellness during travel and finds hospitality uniquely placed. Our VP of Strategic Health & Wellness, Simon Saunders, explores guest expectations, and the how’s and why’s of promoting, influencing, and educating guests’ wellness. Read more

news-article

The Longevity Shift: Opportunities and Challenges for Hotels

Jul / 2024

Consumers increasingly follow well-being routines and health hacks to stay healthy longer and don’t want to skip their habits while traveling. To stay on top of this shift, hotels need to identify appropriate longevity offerings and focus on how they can serve their guests better.

The Longevity Shift: Opportunities and Challenges for Hotels

Jul / 2024

Consumers increasingly follow well-being routines and health hacks to stay healthy longer and don’t want to skip their habits while traveling. To stay on top of this shift, hotels need to identify appropriate longevity offerings and focus on how they can serve their guests better. Read more

news-article
Meet Roger A. Allen

Learn more about the author

Schedule a meeting

Tell us your preferred time to call or any details

Thank you! Your message has been delivered.

Interested in related topics?

Sign up for our eNewsletter

Thank you for subscribing!

search