The survey discusses COVID-19 pandemic and its unprecedented impact on the Drive-In Hotel Markets; On a property level, the survey focuses on hoteliers’ point of view on reopening strategies, domestic demand profile, and market outlook.

The survey discusses COVID-19 pandemic and its unprecedented impact on the Drive-In Hotel Markets. On a property level, the survey focuses on hoteliers’ point of view on reopening strategies, domestic demand profile, and market outlook. The survey was distributed to participants on 11 June 2020. The data collection period was available through 8 July 2020.

Key Takeaways

• On 1st June 2020, the Thailand’s government eased the restrictions including the lifting of curfews, reopening of more businesses and activities, and allowing for cross provinces travel.

• Around 80% of the hotels that are currently in operation have re-opened their hotels to accommodate domestic demand.

• Once re-opened, hoteliers should communicate with prospective guests in case of any closure of facilities prior to confirming the reservation.

• Most hoteliers agree that staff training, social distancing, wearing masks, temperature checking, and SHA certificate are the most important measures to implement.

• Hoteliers are now active in marketing, which focus mainly on raising awareness of their properties, as well as increasing booking via a direct channel.

• Majority of responses are giving from 20% to more than 25% discount on guestrooms.

• Domestic leisure demand is expected to be the first market to recover in the short to medium term, followed by domestic corporate demand, while international demand would take more than one year to recover.

• Most hoteliers agree that the market will lure more domestic demand and that the hotels will employ less full-time staffs to be cost-efficient.

• The majority of respondents believes that the occupancy will reach at least 45% and up to over 75% by Q4 2020.

Respondents

Respondents by Hotel Positionings

Source: HVS

 

The majority of hotels in the sample survey are branded hotels. Approximately 35% of the properties in the survey sample are in the upper-upscale and upscale tiers.

Respondents by its Opening Status

Source: HVS

More than 50% of the survey sample are fully opened for operations. 80% of the properties that are fully opened had suspended their operation for two months between April and May.

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