4th May 2020 By Shannon Williams | shannon@tourismticker.com | @tourismticker
The Lowdown on the Lockdown brings you a regular take from a tourism professional exploring new ways of working, sharing what life now looks like for them and just how much Covid-19 has changed what they do.
Martin is working on a robust revenue recovery plan
QT | Rydges New Zealand national director of sales and marketing on adapting to the new normal, social FOMO, and working through a recovery plan to come out the other side of the Covid-19 crisis.
How have the last few weeks been for you? What was business like heading into lockdown?
Business prior to lockdown was buoyant and hectic, and had one speed… zoom! I was in Sydney on business literally a few days before lockdown. It seems surreal now that it was only six weeks ago. I felt a real sense of loss during the first two weeks of lockdown as deep down I knew that way of life was not going to resume when we returned to “normal” – however, I’ve impressed myself with how quickly I’ve adapted.
And how have you been settling into lockdown life?
Initially, I had social FOMO (fear of missing out), but then settled into a comfortable routine of hard work complemented with personal wellbeing, which don’t usually go hand in hand in our frenetic industry. I’ve actually really enjoyed the last few weeks – I’ve been focused, relaxed and mindful while enjoying having time and space to think through and plan robust strategies.
What are the priorities that you are focusing on right now?
We are working through a robust revenue recovery plan for each hotel based on their specific market mix and feeder markets. I’m also assessing resources across the hotels and how we can work smarter when we come out the other side of this.
How are you communicating with your team? Do you have regular conference calls, video chats?
We initially had twice weekly group Zoom calls to start the revenue recovery planning, however, this has recently reduced to once-a-week. Over and above that, I speak to various individuals daily in response to business needs. At first, it was strange to see one person’s child shoot across the screen and another’s cat jump onto the table, however, we are used to the working-from-home nuances now and take them in our stride.
And how are you keeping up morale through this difficult time?
Each person is different and has reacted to this challenge in their own way. Some need regular contact with tea and sympathy, while others have buckled up for the ride and are eager to trail-blaze. It’s about connecting in a meaningful and empathetic way and supporting each unique individual.
Can you tell us a bit about your bubble? What do you get up to in order to keep spirits up?
My bubble includes my husband, our cat Basil and we’re lucky enough to have had one of our sons join us during level 4 and 3. My husband has fondly been dubbed the “F&B manager” as he tends to do all the cooking and my son is the prankster. Basil sleeps all day so hasn’t contributed much other than his usual cuddles and meows. We’ve had a great few weeks and our only regret is our eldest son is not with us and is still in Auckland.
Have you got any personal goals that you are hoping to achieve while in lockdown?
Yes – to not fight over the TV remote! On a serious note, I firmly believe this was a great opportunity to slow down, reprioritise and reset. I’ve used the time I usually spend commuting focusing on wellbeing so have been sleeping like a baby. I’m pretty creative but don’t always have the luxury of time to do this, however recently I’ve been no stranger to digging in boxes in the garage hauling out paints, mosaics and other interesting tidbits.
What will business look like for you once restrictions lift? What are your plans for recovery?
The new normal will be very different to what we’re used to. Adaption is key to finding novel ways of generating revenue and flexibility is a must. Connecting with clients and collaboratively finding suitable ways of doing business will be front of mind for us.
Have you got any messages of support for the industry that you would like to share?
Don’t be afraid to start over. This time you’re not starting from scratch, you’re starting from experience. Oh and support your local.
If you’d like to contribute to our Lowdown on the Lockdown series, contact the Ticker’s Shannon Williams at shannon@tourismticker.com.
