Tourism Industry, we need to unite and it is now.

Destinations are opening up and the people can see a ray of light.

Countries are opening up with UNTWO and WHO standards in place. Destinations are providing assistance for holidaymakers and the tourism trade by tax reductions, visa fee reduction, destination promotions, and loans to stay positive amidst everything.

Resort and Hotels have slashed prices, they are currently trying to push domestic travel within their borders too. They have started webinars, virtual tours of their properties, slashed prices to attract holidaymakers, and many more incentives to encourage travel. This all comes with hygiene standards and safety precautions taken as per UNWTO and WHO standards.

This thought came to me in the middle of the night; What happens with airlines?

Our industry is not a solo game but a dependent collaboration, we are all one large unit operating separately.

The airlines, cruises, trains, resorts, tour operators, dependent trades, and governments.

Earlier holidaymakers booked destinations that fit their budget. This means hotels and ground handling that fit their holiday budget.

The world opened up more and this trend changed later to; let’s travel to countries that fit my air ticket budget.

Air ticket prices became a major contributing factor for tour operators and holidaymakers to decide on what destination we sell or visit.

Let’s talk about airlines and the difficulties they might face, solutions, and current observations:

• Expats that traveled back home noticed that prices of airline ticket prices had doubled.
• One way tickets I assume for the coming months shall remain hiked, as airlines too under a very difficult situation.
• With the opening of borders, will the UNWTO, WHO, and governments enforce one seat kept free regulation? If this is implemented this might result in a price hike as airlines still have a large operating cost to bare from staff, government taxation, fuels, maintenance, and airport charges.
• If only health and hygiene standards have to be met, will airlines hike the prices until things return to normal? Which in turn would be a difficulty for destinations who opened up, where holidaymakers cannot afford the air tickets.
• The competition within the airlines too will always have to remain as they have to protect their products and QA standards.
• Will IATA regulated fares be the solution like the old days?
• Will regulation a maximum and minimum fare from what region to region (Eg: Europe to South Asia) flight operates be the solution?

Can we suggest more solutions to the TOURISM INDUSTRY?

Kindly note we cannot devise a game plan without everyone coming to the table.

No use if resorts and hotels give discounts if governments charge high visa fees.

Pointless if resorts slash room rates if airlines hike their prices?

No use if airlines, resorts, tour operators, and travel agents open up, without governments assisting them. This so that they can keep their existing staff with financial support and ensure standards and protocols can be efficiently carried out.

Can we unite and come to a solution? The tourism industry is large, it is not only dependent on airlines, resorts, and tour operators. Other contributors, like public spaces (museums and malls), engineers, accountants, restaurants, and even the clothing industry would have a major impact if the tourism trade shall remain to be in turmoil.

Let us unite! Anytime during the day, I shall be open for bouncing of ideas and how we can push to implement them.

We need to unite and it is now.

Cheers!

LISWITH

WFH meeting problems, and their solutions.

I have been talking to others in different trades, how things are going with work and life?
Some have told that meetings held have become stressful, dramatic, and at times annoying.

Let us try some ideas on how we can improve them?

When Team leaders are presenting during the meeting as Managing Director or CEO  do not let others unnecessarily intervene.
Each person will get their turn to talk. Team leaders do not talk down or intervene in another Team Leader's presented ideas.
If presenting an opposing idea for another Team Leader's department ensure to back it up with proof.

Each meeting will have points to be discussed or presented, stick to them strictly. If further points need to be discussed, schedule it for the next meeting. This is to give time for all team members to come prepared.
Do not drag the meetings as an unnecessary debate or discussion.

Lastly to every problem you bring to the table, come along with two or three solutions. Are these solutions supposed to be perfect? No, they just have to be solutions where the team can assist you, or help you with a different approach. The problems and stated solutions can be brainstormed as a team, not told why it cannot be done.

I hope this helped you or sparked your mind.

Cheers!

LISWITH

Hotel General Managers - Automation is not POST COVID it is NOW

I hope automation becomes a big part of the future for the hospitality industry.

Here are some ideas :

Large scale disinfectants of vegetables when transported to hotel/resort facilities.
Once the stock does arrive a conveyor takes the stock, counts the goods via an IoT solution, and passes it through a disinfecting chamber so that it can safely be collected by your team members.

Contactless menus for hotels/resorts where they can pay via Touch Pay / Card or scan hotel key where it shall be added to the guest's final bill.

CCTV cameras that detect if your team is wearing masks. A thermal sensor too can be integrated so that you see if your team members are spiking a fever.

These are some solutions other the WHO standards that all hotels/resorts are supposed to maintain.

If you think these are ideas you would like to implement at your property and it spiked your interest, let us talk.

Cheers!

LISWITH 

Did we truly embrace the NEW NORMAL Sri Lanka?

It is day two since life returned back to normal in Colombo.

We are already rushing to the supermarkets and standing in line excited.
Everyone was speaking how life shall change and that we all shall be shopping on online stores and moving forward to a more social distancing lifestyle.

Soon as this lockdown was lifted we started gathering back at our homes, even to say hi and hello.

We had so many webinars on how WFH “Work from Home” shall be the NEW NORMAL.

Most are back at work again because we were bored at home, or our superiors were bored at home.

Yes if your work was affected in the past 50 days and if you were not productive during this period, and physically being at your workplace is how you earn and are productive, please go to work.

I am not saying life should not go back to normal but should go back to the “new normal”.
We had so many webinars, Zoom meetings, Skype meetings, and endless Facebook posts on the NEW NORMAL. How fast did it take for us to slip back into the old ways?

If you were productive being home; if you worked every day, met your deadlines, ensured that you assisted your team on their work, and at meeting their objectives, please continue to do so at home. 

If you bought groceries online or from the truck that came to your home please continue to do so.

Thanks to all the business owners, drivers, delivery truck owners who brought us food and essentials, you guys are heroes! Our gratitude and appreciation cannot be expressed in words.
I urge you to continue those deliveries, firstly this would help the general public to create a habit and secondly would stop everyone from complaining that we had to go to the store because we are not getting any essentials to our homes.

Let’s try the simple things that we can do so that all we hear on news COVID-19 does change to something slightly normal.

Writing to you from home!

LISWITH

Airports - Post-COVID let's make it safer shall we?

Post-COVID, all airports shall have thermal scanners, PCR tests, and maintenance of social distancing but let's see what more can we brainstorm to make airports safer.

Air ticket & Passport scanning for entry into the airport for passengers.
Passengers encouraged on receiving e-boarding passes even if checked in is at the airport. You shall be receiving an email with baggage tag, and seat number reference and aisle.
No longer immigration forms to be filled and PHYSICALLY given, scanning of passports, boarding pass, and visa for the retrieval of the relevant information. After info gathered an e-signature of the thumbprint of the passenger can be taken.
All transactions at the airport maintained in a strict contactless manner via card or touch-pay, cash can be used only for money exchanges.
Contactless menus, where the required meal can be booked via the airline app before boarding after the check-in process is done.

These are my input for making airports and air travel safer for passengers. I think point three should be seriously thought of so much contact for people coming together to fill that embarkation and disembarkation forms, they share pens, and this is a process that can be electronically replaced than an immigration offer collecting pieces of paper.

I hope reading this sparked your mind.

Stay safe, Stay healthy please do Stay home.

LISWITH