Hoteliers: Diamonds to Darlings, The Lodging Sector Adapts
As a USA Today ‘10 Best Waterfront Hotels’ recipient from 2016-2021 and a AAA Five Diamond Awarded property, The Ritz-Carlton on Amelia Island, was already a jewel. Evolving to become a haven of creativity, staff set about enhancing the visitor experience during a time when travel itself and breathing space had become commodities.
“The pandemic has altered our luxury guests’ needs. They look to escape to our secluded barrier island and once they are here they seek unique experiences that give them personal space. We’ve expanded our offerings that are more one-on-one; such as personal wellness, beach ecology field trips for students, White Oak Conservation experience or fishing with a chef for your personal dinner,” says Greg Cook, General Manager of The Ritz-Carlton, Amelia Island.
Along with the desire to enthrall guests is an understanding among those in the hospitality industry that cleanliness is next to godliness, and tourism partners were careful to articulate the measures taken to ensure the safety of their visitors.
Kerry Mitruska, Director of Sales and Marketing for the Hammock Beach Resort in Palm Coast says the beachfront golf resort and spa, like many luxury properties, strives to exceed standards daily for their guests.
“The health and safety of our guests and associates remains a top priority. Since the beginning, we have diligently followed the CDC guidelines along with those from local and state health authorities when it comes to operating in this new environment, and we will continue to do so,” said Mitruska.
As visitors resume and expand their travel patterns, visibility plays a key role in assuaging concerns.
“Cleanliness has always been important to us. What may have been a function largely performed out of view of our guests in the past – cleaning, sanitizing and disinfecting – is now done more frequently and oftentimes within view of our guests,” he shared.
The diverse experiences and attention to detail have had a noted impact on the tourism industry, building confidence among travelers and the summer of 2021 was the year of the road trip.
Leaving behind Los Angeles, California, and taking ownership of The Island Cottage Oceanfront Inn mid-August 2021, new hotelier Mica Campbell is looking forward to seeing the upward trend in visitation continue for the TripAdvisor 2021 Traveler’s Choice Award winning property in Flagler Beach.
“I know that the sellers for them, it’s been quite busy the last few months. It has really picked up,” she said, while welcoming guests to the boutique bed and breakfast.
“What I’ve noticed in the last two weeks, it’s drivers,” she said. “Relatively local from Orlando, Jacksonville and as far away as Georgia, but they did drive. I think we’ve got someone coming from California next week.”