The need for viral safety has made technology inescapable for hotels. With all the new protocols for self check-in, mobile room keys, physical distancing, contact tracing, prearrival virus screenings (staff and guests), contactless transactions and rigorously itemized cleaning checklists, and with less revenue to go around due to the lack of groups, the only way to stay profitable is through continued automation.
Europe's hotel occupancy fell 51.7% to 38.9% in September, according to monthly data from STR. ADR dipped 27.2% to €90.78 ($107.50) and RevpAR declined 64.8% to €35.31 ($41.48).
In the Middle East, hotel occupancy fell 30.8% to 43.3% in September as ADR dipped 13.5% to $98.54 and RevPAR declined 40.1% to $42.64. In Africa, hotel occupancy decreased 61.2% to 25.6%, ADR rose 2.7% to $99.99 and RevPAR fell 60.2% to $25.57.