Subscribe
E-Paper
 |
| Duke Nam, Marriott International's area vice president of Korea and the Philippines, speaks during an interview with The Korea Times at JW Marriott Dongdaemun Square Seoul, Monday. / Courtesy of Marriott International Korea |
'International visitors expected to come back in 2nd half of next year'
By Jun Ji-hye
The global hotel industry is one of many that have been hit hard by the COVID-19 outbreak as the global public health crisis has resulted in a rapid fall in the number of international visitors.
Duke Nam, Marriott International's area vice president for Korea and the Philippines, said the situation facing the hotel business in Korea has been less severe, compared to the difficulties facing other countries, on the back of growing demand for local "staycations" and national antivirus efforts.
"Marriott hotels in Korea have recovered sales to some extent quarter-on-quarter, as we suffered a 60 percent decrease in sales in the second quarter from a year earlier and then a 50 percent decrease in the third quarter. We expect sales in the fourth quarter to fall by 40 percent from a year earlier," Nam said in an interview with The Korea Times. "But there will be a limit to recovery with domestic demand only. A full recovery of sales will only be possible when international tourism returns."
He noted international travel may return to normal to some extent in the third or fourth quarter of next year at the earliest, as COVID-19 vaccines are soon to be offered.
"Marriott International Korea, which operates 27 properties here under diverse brands, is focusing on how it can cope with the crisis until the second quarter of next year, and we believe this could be done by strengthening the management of loyal customers," Nam said.
In its latest efforts to enhance services for loyal customers, Marriott signed a memorandum of understanding with Korea's largest card company Shinhan Card, Monday, to launch a credit card with a Marriott "Bonvoy" loyalty program.
The loyalty program with about 140 million members around the world offers various rewards including free hotel stays.
Other strategies taken by Marriott to overcome the tough times include the signing of a strategic partnership with local online travel agencies including the country's leading accommodation booking platform Yanolja to promote local properties more effectively.
Marriott International properties have also come together to launch a promotion, offering guests the chance to experience the cultures of neighboring countries, as people around the world have been confined to their own nations for almost a year amid the prolonged pandemic.
 |
| This computer-generated image shows the Daegu Marriott Hotel that is scheduled to be open Dec. 22. / Courtesy of Marriott International Korea |
Nam said the Marriott will continue to expand its presence here, saying more hotel openings will go ahead despite the pandemic.
"We are planning to open our Daegu Marriott Hotel on Dec. 22, and the Gravity Seoul Pangyo, Autograph Collection, on Dec. 30," he said. "More than 10 hotels will be opened here in the next three to four years."
Higher standards of cleanliness
Nam noted that the Marriott has increased efforts to elevate its cleanliness standards and hospitality norms to meet the new health and safety challenges presented by the pandemic.
"The Marriott International set up the Marriott Global Cleanliness Council in April to promote even higher standards of cleanliness through enhanced technologies to minimize risk and enhance safety for customers," he said.
The council is aimed at utilizing knowledge and input from both in-house and outside experts including senior leaders from across Marriott departments, including housekeeping, engineering, food safety, occupational health and associate wellbeing.
In order to reduce physical touch points amid the pandemic, over 3,200 Marriott hotels across the world allow guests to use mobile check-ins, access their room and order room services that are specially served to the door without any human contact, Nam added.
"COVID-19 infection clusters have occurred at various places here, but there have been no mass outbreaks at hotels, which means hotels' enhanced antivirus measures have been working," Nam said.
