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After 20 months without a single guest in its more than 1,000 rooms, the Hyatt Grand Central in Midtown Manhattan is now sold out on weekends through the end of the year.
The hotel was one of roughly 200 citywide that suspended operations at the start of the pandemic. Now, the reopening of U.S. borders to vaccinated foreign tourists is breathing life back into the hospitality industry, but a full recovery could take years. Some of the most lucrative travel markets have not yet returned such as tourists from China.
"As the restrictions on foreign travel lifted, business has picked back up," said Joe Gaeta, director of sales and marketing at Hyatt’s Manhattan properties.
While hotels continue to reopen and return to business, more than 100 in the city will remain closed for good. New hotel construction has offset these losses, but a deficit of thousands of rooms won't be available to travelers, resulting in booking shortages as demand increases. The state comptroller reported in April that 37,000 rooms closed citywide after the pandemic’s first wave -- about one-third of the boroughs’ inventory.
For the hospitality industry, the return of international visitors is vital to its survival. The city’s official tourism and marketing organization, NYC & Company, said the pace of recovery is led by these leisure travelers.
“International travelers are the critical final concentric circle of our recovery,” said Chris Heywood, Executive Vice President at NYC & Company. “The return of foreign travelers was a pivotal milestone moment in our recovery.”
A fifth Covid wave in Europe doesn't help either. And now that Europeans can travel to the states, NYC will be at increased risk of another covid wave as well. Honestly, the hotel industry is scaling back so much - no more daily room cleaning, no more continental breakfast, etc. - that they're causing their own demise.
Crime is the biggest threat for NYC tourism. Many foreign visitors, through social media, witness the videos and posting of hate crimes, robbery, looting, etc. From an outsider NYC looks to be trash like DC, Philly, Chicago, San Francisco.
A fifth Covid wave in Europe doesn't help either. And now that Europeans can travel to the states, NYC will be at increased risk of another covid wave as well. Honestly, the hotel industry is scaling back so much - no more daily room cleaning, no more continental breakfast, etc. - that they're causing their own demise.
Where are you from? Continental breakfasts are not common in hotels in New York City. Or any major city.
Crime is the biggest threat for NYC tourism. Many foreign visitors, through social media, witness the videos and posting of hate crimes, robbery, looting, etc. From an outsider NYC looks to be trash like DC, Philly, Chicago, San Francisco.
It has an impact. Read some recent reviews about some reopened hotels I worked at. Several complaints about encounters with aggrssive homeless. Covid still has the biggest impact, along with rooms selling for less each day. Then a reduction of services within. Not only due to Covid but short staffing as well. Anyone with symptoms may be sent home also, further straining staff. And I can say first hand how some employees will abuse that also. We would have people call out less then an hour before shift before covid hit.
It has an impact. Read some recent reviews about some reopened hotels I worked at. Several complaints about encounters with aggrssive homeless. Covid still has the biggest impact, along with rooms selling for less each day. Then a reduction of services within. Not only due to Covid but short staffing as well. Anyone with symptoms may be sent home also, further straining staff. And I can say first hand how some employees will abuse that also. We would have people call out less then an hour before shift before covid hit.
Unlimited sick days now. Can call Out and say you have a fever, go for a test and have 3 days off. Can spend time bird watching, playing cards or biking. It’s a beautiful thing.
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