We’re coming to the end of the year, and it feels like a natural time to reflect on the year that has come and gone. Also, as we’re heading into the new year, it seems the time to look ahead and try to figure out what’s next.
So much has happened in 2021, much of it drastically different and, in many ways, better than 2020. During the last year, many of us saw at least a partial return to our normal pre-pandemic lives. We saw friends and family. We traveled, for fun and for work. Many of us have gone back to our offices. Schools have fully reopened. It’s not all exactly like it used to be, but we’re getting closer to what we used to be.
While we are celebrating our recovery and the return of some normalcy, we are also experiencing a lot of changes. People’s priorities changed during the pandemic, and they're not willing to give up so easily on things they value, like their time, or the ability to work remotely. Significant change always creates a lot of friction, to put it lightly.
As we head into 2022 and we try to move past this pandemic, we’re not going to see things go back 100% to how they used to be. Some things are going to be different. Some of what we’re used to might not come back at all, or it might come back changed. Maybe business travel won’t happen as much, but we’ve seen what happens when leisure guests have more freedom with their time and their budgets. That leisure demand has proven to be more challenging to serve at times, so maybe that means hotels must adjust how they manage that demand.
It’s tough to say exactly what we’re going to see in 2022. If the last almost two years has taught us anything, it’s that it’s incredibly difficult to predict what’s next.
What I hope to see, though, is that we can continue working together to put an end to the pandemic. I hope we recognize that we’re all human, and that comes with plenty of strengths and some limitations. I think, for the most part, we’re all doing the best we can. What we went through in 2020 was absolutely miserable, and while 2021 was considerably better, people still are recovering at their own pace.
Next year should be a better year, and it’s up to all of us to make that happen. Good luck in your efforts, and I hope you all have healthy and safe holidays.
You can reach me at bwroten@hotelnewsnow.com and @HNN_Bryan.
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