Whenever a crisis happens, we are nudged out of our routine to think and act 'differently'. The Corona crisis is no exception. It leads us in the hospitality space, to look at various changes and innovations, like these two trends being pushed by many hotels now and constantly hashtagged - #workations and #staycations.
I do find Workation a rather elitist term. Do you really believe that other than the boss, the down line will be allowed to work and be on vacation at the same time ??!! No, I do not see this happening at any time in the future. This form of travel is only for the independent businessman or the corporate honcho, who has the privilege of doing both at the same time. The down-line, who form the major percentage of the workforce, will always have to choose one - work or vacation. And I really wonder, if after being rendered useless for 100 odd days, will one’s mind really go towards a vacation, or go towards rolling up your sleeves and getting back to productive work again, catching up on all that was lost? Or has Corona rendered us so useless, that we think that not working is actually the ‘new normal’ ?!
We are also supposed to believe that there is a segment called Staycation, where people will continue to pay the monthly rental of their city accommodation ( for those of us underprivileged who are tenants) and at the same time pay long term rent to hire a place somewhere else. And that too in times when salaries are under pressure! Why would you leave your 2/3 bedroom apartment and be cooped up in a hotel room? Yes, this could be an option for the seaside, forests, or mountains. But Himachal Pradesh is not welcoming you and Uttrakhand is playing musical chairs with its border policies. And I do find it humorous, when many looking for such options in the mountains, have expectations of accommodations at ridiculous rentals, along with expectations of hi-speed internet, uninterrupted power supply, covered car parking and home-delivery of groceries, etc. These spoilt city-brats should stay where they belong – in the city. And personally, I do hope that this trend does not catch on. An exodus to the mountains will further damage the already fragile eco-system which exists there.
So I do believe that both these have limited potential, are a worth-while marketing tool, but will not add any real value to your bottom line unless you a BB type of set-up.
News Courtesy: Himmat Anand
