An inspection team from the Hanoi Department of Tourism surveyed the operations of an accommodation facility in Son Tay town, June 2023.
Innovate to attract customers
After the impact of the Covid-19 pandemic, accommodation establishments were the businesses that suffered the most damage. Many establishments had to close for a long time due to lack of guests and had to lay off employees. When the Government fully reopened tourism activities from March 15, 2022, the strategy to recover and develop tourism was promoted nationwide, in which Hanoi city was one of the tourist centers focusing on many synchronous solutions. Accommodation establishments gradually resumed operations.
Welcoming the golden tourist season this year, especially the time to welcome international guests (from September), many accommodation establishments are ready to provide new services for tourists. Sales Director of Movenpick Hanoi Hotel (Ly Thuong Kiet Street, Hoan Kiem District) Nguyen Thuy Bich Van said that the hotel is in the process of upgrading items and will open in early October to welcome international guests. The hotel will invest in culinary services, entertainment, swimming pools for tourists, and at the same time have an attractive stimulus price policy.
According to the CEO of Sheraton Hotel (Xuan Dieu Street, Tay Ho District) Bui Xuan Dang, the unit currently has a strategy to promote and market with many foreign partners about the hotel's room policies and service quality. The system of campus, trees and hotel amenities are focused on creating a green experience space for visitors. Meanwhile, information from Grand K Hotel (Pham Van Bach Street, Cau Giay) said that the needs and habits of visitors have changed after the Covid-19 pandemic, so the unit uses environmentally friendly materials in its amenities.
In the Old Quarter, which attracts international visitors, many hotels have been “revived” after the Covid-19 pandemic. Manager of Boutique and Spa Hotel (Ma May, Hoan Kiem District) Dang Minh Thoi said that the unit is currently promoting its image and open booking policies on applications to connect with more tourists.
In the suburbs of Hanoi, accommodation activities are clearly bustling. During the summer, many accommodation establishments are fully booked on weekends such as: Medi Thien Son, Asean resort (Ba Vi), Lang Mit, Glory resort (Son Tay)... Currently, some accommodation establishments have opened more experiential services for tourists such as herbal baths, mineral baths, tourism combined with health care or combined with some tourist attractions so that tourists can stay for a long time.
Professional operation required
According to the Hanoi Department of Tourism, as of June 2023, there were 3,756 tourist accommodation establishments with 70,218 rooms in Hanoi; of which 603 hotels were ranked from 1 to 5 stars with 25,550 rooms, accounting for 16.1% of the total number of tourist accommodation establishments in the area and 36.3% of the total number of rooms. The average room occupancy rate of hotels in June 2023 was estimated at 65.9%, an increase of 23% over the same period in 2022. Besides the accommodation establishments operating effectively, creating a clear change in attracting long-term tourists, there are still many accommodation establishments that still have shortcomings.
According to the Fire Prevention, Fire Fighting and Rescue Police Department (Hanoi City Police), currently, there are many accommodation establishments that have not been inspected for fire prevention and fighting but have been put into operation. This does not ensure safety for tourists.
To solve difficulties and shortcomings and improve service quality for accommodation establishments, Chairman of the Vietnam Hotel Association Do Hong Xoan said that accommodation establishments need policies to re-attract human resources and organize training to improve the qualifications and skills of staff, especially communication skills, guidance, and welcoming international guests.
According to Associate Professor, Dr. Pham Hong Long, Head of the Department of Tourism (Hanoi University of Social Sciences and Humanities), the travel habits of international visitors have changed compared to before. Accommodation establishments need to use 4.0 technology applications and digital media to promote promotion, and have a mechanism for guests to easily book rooms online from a distance. In addition, to help visitors stay longer, accommodation establishments need to build a tourist map of the nearest attractions so that guests can have more activities to experience.
Director of Hanoi Department of Tourism Dang Huong Giang said that the unit regularly coordinates with related units to organize inspection teams to review the operations of accommodation establishments; issue many documents requiring accommodation establishments to strictly implement regulations on fire prevention, fire fighting, food safety and hygiene, and epidemic prevention. In addition, the Department recommends that tourism units quickly develop new products, improve operational efficiency to proactively welcome guests, especially during the peak summer season and the peak season for international visitors starting from September.
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