Lockdown Living

The lack of guests has made us appreciate just how vital they are to a hotel. “You become very aware of the fact that it’s just a building when there are no guests. It’s great to get the work done and give everything a refresh, but the life and soul of the hotel, is the guests and the team that work here.”

 

The world has changed immeasurably in the past few months, and nowhere has been more affected than the hotel industry. With the country’s hotels forced to close their doors in March, and foreign travel only just now becoming viable again, it’s unclear when – or even if – things will get back to normal. Indeed, the current lockdown has resulted in some strange living arrangements; adult children living with parents, unlikely roommates forced together, extended families cramped under one roof.

That strangeness has extended to the Press Up group, where, during the lockdown, two managers stayed in their hotels, hospitality castaways who, despite the strange circumstances, have adapted to a new normal weirder than any of us could have forecast at the turn of the year.

The Dean officially closed on March 23rd and reopened again to guests on June 29th. Throughout the lockdown, Dave had used this time to be as productive as possible. “It’s a good opportunity to get work done in the building, on jobs big or small that we didn’t want to do before, as they would have impacted on guests. For example, we are getting a lot of work done on Sophie’s, so that will have a refresh before we re-open.” The lack of guests has made him appreciate just how vital they are to a hotel. “You become very aware of the fact that it’s just a building when there are no guests. It’s great to get the work done and give everything a refresh, but the life and soul of it is the guests and the team that work here.