Deloitte uncovers opportunities for restaurants, hotels and others to recover and thrive in the new normal
The COVID19 crisis upended our daily lives at a dizzying speed and the resulting global lockdown has dramatically affected consumer behaviour. Restaurants, hotels, casinos, and sporting venues have stood empty for months, as Canadas hospitality sector has been one of the hardest hit by the coronavirus.
Launched today, Deloittes report, calledThe future of hospitality, explores how the Canadian hospitality sector will have to reinvent and adapt to survive with safety as the number one priority for Canadian consumers, who are seeking a stress-free experience and consistency in health and safety protocols.
Deloitte has recognizedfour key consumer-driven trends, which will reshape the hospitality sector now during stages of the reopening of the economy and for the post-pandemic world.
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Trust will be essential
Canadians will remember the companies that paid attention and took care of them. Businesses must be transparent and communicate the steps taken to keep customers and employees safe and demonstrate how theyre living up to those commitments at every point of interaction. The COVID-19 crisis has seen rapid acceleration of technology, offering a launch pad for hospitality businesses to embrace and offer digital technologies to their customers.With only one in three (34 percent) Canadians feeling safe going to a restaurant, the importance of technology such as self-check-ins, app-based services, and augmented or virtual reality is vital for survival.
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Reimagine and reinvent the customer experience
Having a pulse on consumers changing behaviours will be crucial for the hospitality sectors ability to uncover opportunities to recover and thrive. Withmerely 15 percent of Canadian consumers saying they feel safe attending in-person eventsandonly about 3 in 10 (29 percent) feeling safe staying in a hotel, consumers expect more from the sector and are unwilling to make sacrifices when it comes to health and safety. Hotels must reinvent in order to own the staycation space and rebuild the sector by targeting close-to-home tourists.
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Re-evaluating the priority list
The COVID-19 crisis seems to have prompted Canadian consumers to re-evaluate their overall spending priorities, with pre-pandemic must-haves now seen as nice-to-havesat best. According to DeloittesState of the Consumer Tracker, over the next four weeks Canadian consumers expect to spend abouthalf (51 percent) as much on travel,15 percent less on restaurants and takeout,and14 percent less on entertainment compared to the previous four weeks.
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A recovery like no other
Hospitality businesses will need to manage the operational realities of the new normal by investing in technology, building a more agile workforce and identifying new sources of supply for the products or services their customers rely on. From smart phone apps and non-invasive thermal scanning tools to promote safety and alleviate operational burdens technology will play a pivotal role in the survival of the hospitality sector in adapting to consumer behaviour changes and demands.
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Leslie Peterson, a national leader for theTransportation, Hospitality, Services industry sectors at Deloitte Canada.Leslie is on hand to discuss the ways the COVID-19 crisis has changed consumer behaviours and can explore some of the opportunities that can help restaurants, hotels, casinos, sports organizations, and other hospitality organizations to not only adjust to the new normal, but recover, and thrive once more.
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