Goa upbeat in anticipation

Goa was witnessing unprecedented rush of tourists and there was a ray of hope in the travel and hospitality community of the state before the third wave of COVID put a spanner in the progress. However, the travel and hospitality industry of the state is still optimistic and preparing to bounce back.

Janice Alyosius

Goa emerged as one of the favorite tourist destinations of 2021. The state experienced an unprecedented surge in tourists and became an escape spot for people in all seasons. As the number of tourists grows, so does the concern about the spread of Omicron. The most important factor remains the adherence to SOPs.

Usually, the travel and hospitality industries are the first to be affected by such a surge, and this has been no different.

Speaking with hospitality professionals about their experiences during the surge, Shiv Bose, General Manager, DoubleTree by Hilton Goa – Panaji, mentioned that the occupancy has dropped in comparison to previous months, yet the hotel is optimistic that recovery is within reach. The hotel has developed the ‘Hilton Clean Stays’ programe, which utilises a robust
hygiene and sanitization methodology to navigate the current economic climate.

Ranju Singh, Complex General Manager, Novotel Goa Resort & Spa and Novotel Goa Candolim, expressed his gaiety over the hotel’s business. He revealed that all rooms at the hotel were sold out during the New Year celebration.

Expressing concerns about the industry, Bose said that currently the industry is in a lot of limbo and getting headway is getting increasingly difficult.
State governments are imposing new restrictions, and each serves as a death knell for the hospitality business.

Stating a comparison of business pre-Covid and present, Bose said, “In the last quarter of 2021, we achieved pre-pandemic occupancy and revenue numbers. With an average occupancy rate of over 80%, we were confident that Q1-2022 would mirror the recovery. In the hope of getting things back on track soon and in preparation for the months to come, hotels continue to improve and develop themselves. Hilton Goa is focusing on incorporating technology to provide a more seamless experience for guests.

Nowadays, wellness tourism has been gaining popularity. Travellers are seeking experience associated with maintaining or enhancing their personal wellbeing. When hotels were asked what they offer to meet their client’s expectations, Bose revealed, “I concur to the idea that wellness travel is growing and has great potential. We are preparing to launch Elle Spa and Salon in the first quarter of this year. Our resort activity brochure is also undergoing a change and will have a host of wellness programs for our guests.”

Remarking the hotel’s strategy for 2022, Bose said, “As part of our strategy, we will continue to offer value-based offerings, such as “Dream Stays” and “Great Small Breaks,” which give a variety of benefits to guests. We will continue to maintain this strategy and work on the details to make every guest’s stay memorable. Providing value for money is the way forward. There will be a quicker recovery this time, and demand will increase from Q2 onwards. However, we must not lose sight of the larger picture and wait for the recovery to begin. In the present period, we are looking inwards and reorganising ourselves in order to give our guests the best experience possible.

Singh said, “We have been looking at offerings like the floating meals at the pool and a lot of cultural trails and adventures. When the restrictions across Goa are loosened, we remain optimistic that the market will rebound.