The long fight against the COVID-19 pandemic has made the world come to a standstill. Attempts to contain the spread of the deadly virus had led governments across the world to announce lockdowns and travel restrictions, preventing the movement of people both inside the nation and out of it. And, even as the lockdown restrictions are being gradually eased in parts of the country, it seems like we are still quite far from returning to normalcy. In that sense, if there is one industry that has been the worst hit by the pandemic, it is definitely the hospitality and aviation industry.
So, what does this mean for this sector? Has the aviation and hospitality industry given in to the COVID effect and lost hope in front of the ongoing crisis? No! And we have multiple reasons to say that.
Surely, the aviation and hospitality industry has come face-to-face with these unforeseen times, but that has only motivated it to roll out extraordinary measures to offer continued services, with special attention to health and safety. In fact, at Avlon Shiksha Niketan, we believe that the aviation and hospitality industry has always remained instrumental in strengthening the nation’s fight against the pandemic.
So, how exactly is the aviation and hospitality industry battling the pandemic impact and serving the nation at the same time? Let’s find out!
The Aviation and Hospitality Industry is Stepping Up to Serve the Nation
For us, at Avlon Shiksha Niketan, a renowned aviation college in Kolkata, it feels like a moment of pride to see the sector rise to this occasion by working together for the greater good. The industry has shown its true commitment to hospitality and has dedicatedly stood on the forefront to help the nation fight the pandemic.
Many hotels have opened their doors to house medical staff and made the venue available for hospital beds. Chefs and teams involved in food service in hotels across the country have taken an active part in arranging free meals to the medical staff while putting themselves at risk for battling the crisis.
Moreover, it would not be an exaggeration to say that one of the greatest victories of the aviation and hospitality industry lies in the ‘Vande Bharat’ mission: an attempt to bring home over 14,800 nationals from twelve countries. Not only has our aviation sector successfully taken up this mission, but the fact that a number of top-notch hotels have allocated separate rooms for quarantining these passengers, also shows that the hospitality sector is ready to fulfil its commitments.
Renewed Attempts at Winning Over the Trust of the Customers
The fact that the relationship between the consumer and the brand begins by building trust is something that the hospitality and aviation industry has always understood and reflected in its work.
The sector has a keen realization that regaining customer confidence is the key step in bouncing back from the crisis. No wonder, strict hygiene and sanitary measures have already been implemented by the businesses in the aviation and hospitality sector, with new practices being introduced for monitoring and controlling the conditions in the work environment.
Cautionary safety and intensified sanitation and hygiene measures and practices have been put in place across airports, flights, and hotels to make sure that the customers can rely on the industry they invest their trust in.
An Opportunity to Re-evaluate the Varied Facets of the Business
One of the finest steps taken by the aviation and hospitality sector amid the ongoing crisis is to relook at the way business has been done until now. We have all accepted the fact that being a part of the sector is never going to be the same even after we come out of this pandemic situation. And it lies in acknowledging this very fact that makes this time as the perfect opportunity to act and prepare the sector and its staff for the times to come.
The current condition has made the industry focus on new business opportunities and models, such as human capital sharing platforms, better delivery concepts, and promoting staycations. In fact, the businesses operating in the sector have also used this time to focus on activities like social media strategies, outlining standard procedures for operating, security plans, and asset counts, which have been taking a backseat for quite a while now.
New Approaches and Measures to Ensure the Safety of Travelers Post Pandemic
The sector has already reached the planning stage for the measures to be taken for the travelers venturing out of their states or countries in the post-pandemic era.
Right from enhancing security measures to increasing the sanitation efforts at the venues, the new approach focuses on ensuring that the customers feel safe with traveling and accommodations. The focus is now being laid on offering the guarantee of health safety, along with ensuring the psychological assurance of wellbeing.
The Aviation and Hospitality Industry is All Set to Bounce Back Even Stronger
We will have to accept the fact that the industry is among the worst hit by the pandemic. But, it is also true that the aforementioned steps taken by the sector show that it’s ready to battle the crisis and bounce back to its previous glory. However, the new and evolved needs of the industry would need its professionals to embrace the new normal and advance accordingly.
In the times to come, there will be a prominent demand in the industry for professionals who are skilled enough to be unfazed by such challenges in the path. After all, the pandemic will pass, but many other new challenges in terms of serving the customers might arise in the future. COVID has shown the importance of having resilient and dedicated employees in the industry who can tackle any kind of crisis, and the businesses are now going to keep this factor in mind in their hiring initiatives.
If you are one of those ambitious minds who have always been willing to join the highly lucrative aviation and hospitality industry, this is the time when you can not only contribute to the profession but also the nation. As a leading hospitality management college in Kolkata and one of the pioneering educational institutes of the country, we, at Avlon Shiksha Niketan, are right here to arm you with the real-world skills and know-how. With our immense experience in preparing the young minds for the aviation and hospitality sector, we know what exactly it takes to thrive in the changing environment, and hence we leave no stones unturned in prepping up our students for the same.
With our industry-centric training and education, we have helped many students carve a robust career in the aviation and hospitality sector. We, at Avlon, are all geared up to continue shaping the careers of many more youngsters by imparting them with the knowledge, skills, and the best practices and standards to make their mark in the changing times ahead. So, use this time to enhance your skillset under our expert guidance, and get ready to make your career dreams come true.