Banyan Tree nabs ‘Safe Destination’ certification
Singapore-based Banyan Tree Group has received the first Safe Destination Certifications for its flagship destination resort, Laguna Phuket, which held its first post-COVID event “Amazing Thailand Safety and Health Administration (SHA) Certification Award Ceremony” at the Angsana Convention and Exhibition Space in Phuket. In response to the global pandemic, in June, Banyan Tree Group had launched the SafeSanctuary Program in partnership with Bureau Veritas to co-develop a proprietary label and certification system that incorporates over 40 new protocols of assurance and wellbeing standards, rolled out across all properties including Laguna Phuket.
Is Monty Bennett a villain or victim?
The Texas-based hotel magnate’s companies got at least US$69 million from the government’s Paycheck Protection Program, designed to help businesses pay employees during the pandemic, and he became the public face of corporate greed and the subject of a backlash. It’s not the first time he’s been in the spotlight, according to the Dallas Morning News.
Dubai sees long haul back to profitability
According to a KPMG report, hotel prices are expected to remain soft through 2020 due to COVID-19, with Dubai remaining a buyers’ and renters’ market. The report says Dubai’s hospitality sector has suffered: Travel restrictions shrunk average occupancy in May to 27.7%, a year-on-year decline of 46.1%. With recovery dependent upon international and local travel restrictions and traveler sentiment, Dubai hotel operators believe their FY 2020 revenue may contract by more than 50% and anticipate it will take 18-24 months to reach pre-pandemic levels of profitability.
