Boutique Hotel Owners send Positive Vibes All Across the Mediterraneen for Summer 2021

Nicosia, Cyprus: March 31, 2021 – For the primary time in a 12 months for the reason that COVID-19 pandemic wreaked havoc throughout the worldwide leisure business, almost one third of boutique resort homeowners within the Mediterranean see ‘optimistic’ indicators for this summer time’s bookings.

Greece and Tunisia are heading the cost as bookings seem like slowly recovering, in line with the most recent quarterly report of 125 unbiased hoteliers from the influential Boutique Resort Barometer.

The barometer, hosted by the Boutique Vibe Assortment, is the one real-time measurement of enterprise sentiment amongst homeowners of boutique resorts in Albania, Croatia, Cyprus, France, Greece, Italy, Malta, Morocco, Slovenia, Spain, Tunisia, and Turkey.

The cautious sentiment amongst some hoteliers within the first three months of 2021 trace at a possible turning level of their battle to maintain their enterprise afloat simply as Europe heads into its third wave of the pandemic and the UK tightens up on journey overseas.

Whereas the top of 2020 noticed almost three-quarters – 71% – of homeowners of unbiased resorts utterly demoralized, decisive authorities motion and vaccination programme rollouts had begun to reverse this image, the evaluate discovered.

Solely 43% of hoteliers have been pessimistic in regards to the coming six months (a -28pp change) and for the primary time for the reason that pandemic, 28% of responders are upbeat for the long run.

“The message from our members is one in every of cautious optimism as enterprise slowly returns” commented Rim Jourdan, CEO and founding father of The Boutique Vibe.

Tunisia appears to be recovering sooner than the typical, with 60% of hoteliers reporting reserving ranges near or above the earlier 12 months. In distinction, 90% of French and 83% of Cypriot hoteliers say bookings are under final 12 months.

As a consequence of robust Authorities motion, 51% of Greek hoteliers are adopting a optimistic forecast for the six months forward, with Tunisian hoteliers an in depth second this listing.

The report revealed that, for the primary time for the reason that starting of the pandemic, the specter of new tendencies in hospitality (i.e. AirBnB) appears to be regarding hoteliers (15%) as a lot because it used to, previous to COVID, as they flip consideration again to how they will higher compete with various strategies of lodging.

Sustainability stays central to 70% Med boutique hotel owners however continues to be a difficulty with communication and consciousness for potential travellers. Greek (90%), Croatia (78%), France (80%) and Tunisia (80%) are outranking the typical resort within the sustainability stakes.

The report additionally revealed thrice as many resorts for the reason that pandemic plan main investments of their resorts, investments averaging over $50,000. Homeowners are specializing in altering buyer focus (36%), resort renovation (36%) or growing advertising and marketing spend (19%).

“Hoteliers are utilizing alternatives offered by the pandemic to chop off the shackles that saved them depending on massive third-party re-sellers and focus extra on facilitating direct bookings” added Ms Jourdan.

Hoteliers are additionally focussing on upgrading their web site (30%) and investing in new back-office IT methods (15%) – indicating a change in advertising and marketing and distribution methods for small unbiased resorts & doubtlessly a change in traveller behaviour, who more and more favor dealing immediately with resorts because it ensures correct and timeline communication and motion in case of unexpected occasions.

The Boutique Vibe can be stepping in to facilitate this. Beginning April 2021, it can redirect all bookings for his or her unique resort companions on to their web sites, aiming at supporting them higher in advertising and marketing their product and lowering the overall value of gross sales.

Ms Jourdan mentioned the Assortment is poised to develop its membership additional in 2021 and referred to as on different unbiased resort homeowners throughout the Mediterranean area to join their colleagues.

A full copy of the primary 2021 quarterly report is out there here together with a extra detailed analysis.

About Boutique Vibe

The Boutique Vibe is the primary assortment of small unbiased resorts focusing completely within the Mediterranean area. Our mission is to advertise Mediterranean hospitality in its most genuine type. We associate completely with small unbiased properties with distinctive character whereas specializing in essentially the most environmentally pleasant & sustainable resorts. Journey professionals and like-minded travellers assess all our associate resorts.

The Assortment is constructed on 5 pillars: Finest service; “Keep as a neighborhood” philosophy; independence; small scale operations and sustainability, together with being eco-friendly and socially accountable.