A new report from a high-level hospitality industry think tank acknowledges that while government authorities were quick to act in providing support to hoteliers as the effects of the pandemic progressed, further support is needed to facilitate recovery. The white paper addresses five key concerns facing hotel owners and operators, and makes recommendations for potential actions to overcome them. These include crisis support, collaboration, sustainability, efficiency and safety.

Launched by the UAE Hospitality Think Tank, “The Way Ahead for Hospitality”, calls for additional steps from authorities and financial institutions to support hoteliers through the crisis, and it recommends several reforms including greater flexibility in employment regulations and zoning.

The UAE Hospitality Think Tank is a focus group comprising leading industry players from across the UAE hospitality sector brought together by Mashreq Bank and MEED.

The report sets out 15 recommended actions needed in the UAE to support the country’s hotels and to create a more resilient sector that is better able to withstand future shocks. Even as customers return as lockdown measures ease, the inevitable fall in hotel occupancy and capacity in food and beverage facilities due to safety and social distancing measures will hit revenues.

The recommendations cover both the immediate need of boosting an industry impacted by the current crisis and the longer-term objective of building resilience through increased collaboration and efficiency.