Tourism and travel industries – and consumers – face challenges as COVID-19 restrictions are lifted

The easing of COVID-19 restrictions paves the way for the tourism and travel industries to get rolling again.

But hotels and their managers will be faced with multiple challenges: How do they prove their rooms are clean? How do they manage reservations?

Travellers also must consider various factors regarding their safety when booking trips and lodging.

The University of Delaware has three experts who can examine the issue:

- Sheryl F. Kline, Professor of Hospitality Business Management, can speak to the business side, with suggestions and analysis on what travelers can do to try to protect their trips and purchases; and offer ways hotel managers can successfully navigate a health crisis.

- Srikanth Beldona, Professor of Hospitality Business Management, can talk about the importance of maintaining relationships with guests despite the limited face-to-face protocols that will be in place when it comes to providing hospitality-based experiences. Hospitality as we've understood for this long is being redefined as we speak, and providers need to ensure that connectivity with guests remains the same, if not more, he said.

- Jennifer Horney, Professor of Epidemiology, can provide tips and insight on how travelers can minimize their risk of exposure and what hoteliers can do to try and ensure the health of their guests.