SINGAPORE - Media OutReach - 2 July 2020 - Luxury hotels and resorts have alwayspositioned seclusion, exclusivity and a host of wellness options as touchpointsin their offerings. Moving forward, the Covid-19 pandemic begs the question ofwhether the travel industry will follow suit.

With over two decades of experience in thebusiness of luxury travel and private equity, Olivier Jolivet, CEO of COMOGroup, is one of the far and few professionals fit to divulge the future ofluxury travel in a post-pandemic world.

Supporting COMO's Community & Employees

COMO's brand DNA is not without its focus onwell-being. Through its social media channels and Stories newsletters, COMO hasbeen reaching out to those staying at home during the period. Theorganisation's group of therapists are also plugged into improving wellness,both physically and mentally, in employees and communities.

Likewise, in the spirit of support andsensitivity, COMO waives all of its cancellation fees - offering the option ofeither reimbursement or postponement of travel dates to 2021. Retaining theiremployees is also part of the efforts despite closing off 90 percent of theirhotels.

Extending the commitment to well-beingbeyond COMO's direct influence, food, supplies and beds have been provided tohealthcare organisations to aid front liners in the fight against the pandemic.

Travel & Its Future in a Post Covid-19World

As unprecedented as it is, the Covid-19crisis is unfolding at the pinnacle of travel - causing ripple effects ontointernational travel and even putting a stop to it momentarily. To Olivier,luxury travel has always been about space, privacy and choice. This cannot befarther from truth in what constitutes our new normal.

Given our current and recent experiences,Olivier considers that travellers tomorrow may opt for smaller groups, moreintimate locations and specialised offerings instead of 300-bedroom hotels. Inthis respect, destination-focused hotels, unique suites and wellness programshave always formed the nucleus of COMO's business model.

Intentionally so, the vision COMO's founder,Christina Ong, had 30 years ago has led the brand to unrivalled success andcertainly so, not by chance. As Olivier calls it, the COMO model for moderntravel and living is, without a doubt, significant in today's context.

Although relevance is key to staying inbusiness, Olivier believes that it isn't the right time for a new marketingdecision - at least for COMO. He advises against remodelling messaging -indicating that crises are not opportunities and using them in that way can beunfortunate.

Mitigating Covid-19 Impacts on the Travel Industry

It all starts with your brand DNA, remarksOlivier. How it relates to the environment you operate in, people you serve -from employees and guests to stake-holders present - factors in your crisismanagement.

Cushioning the impact of a crisis of thisscale requires intervention in some form. If the government is financiallycapable, monetary initiatives point in the right direction for repair andrecovery. Still, this could be an issue for emerging economies.

This article is originally inspired by Robb Report Singapore.

COMO Hotels and Resorts

Media Contact:

Chris Orlikowski - chris.orlikowski@comohotels.com