THE HOSPITALITY INDUSTRY DURING THE SPREAD OF COVID-19

Aim. To determine the impact of COVID-19 on the hospitality industry at the time of border closings and in the following months. Methodology. The analysis of statistical material (occupancy rate, average room rate, income per available room) by regions for April 2019 and April 2020 was carried out. The hotel business in North America, Africa, China, Finland, Mexico, the hotel chain Marriott International was studied in more detail. In the Russian Federation the main indices of the activity of collective accommodation facilities are considered. Changes in hotel services related to the need to introduce digital technologies are assessed. Results. Due to the closed borders and inability to travel, the hospitality sector experienced a significant decrease in demand for its product, which led to pronounced negative consequences for this business. A sharp decline in all indicators of the hotel industry affected both the GDP and employment of the population, and the existence of the hotels themselves. The European Region has suffered the most. The article examines in more detail the state of the hotel sector in some countries, including China, which was one of the first to start the path to the recovery of the hotel business. In 2019, Moscow, St. Petersburg and the Krasnodar Territory experienced a drop in demand more noticeably than other cities in Russia. During the pandemic, hotel groups expanded the adoption of intelligent contactless services, organizational innovation, and digitalization. The hospitality sector, severely affected by COVID-19, is forced to seek ways to restructure and develop a diversified business. Research implications. The practical relevance lies in the need to assess the negative impact of the pandemic on the hotel sector. This study also suggests that COVID-19 will significantly and permanently impact four pillars of the hospitality industry - multi-business and multichannel, product design and investment preferences.

tourism, COVID-19, hotel, occupancy, consumers, average daily room rate, accommodation facilities

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