Hospitality Schools Weigh the Pandemic’s Long-Term Impact on Travel Curriculum

sach1tb  / Wikimedia

Universities with hospitality schools like Cornell (pictured) aren’t likely to make swift changes to curriculum in light of coronavirus. But the pandemic is a hot topic within every classroom. sach1tb / Wikimedia

Skift Take: It will take years for pandemic strategy to show up as a central part of any major hospitality school curriculum, but coronavirus today is still a central part of any classroom — virtual or otherwise.

— Cameron Sperance

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U.S. Hotel Unemployment Slips Below 30 Percent for First Time Since March

andrewbecks  / Pixabay

U.S. hotel unemployment dropped to 29.9 percent in September but remains roughly four times higher than the national average. andrewbecks / Pixabay

Skift Take: Job gains are great news for hotels. But the U.S. Labor Department figures only paint one part of the full picture of an extremely troubled industry.

— Cameron Sperance

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What Happens When a Massive Wave of Hotels Default?

ThreeIfByBike  / Flickr

Some hotels like Chicago’s Palmer House (pictured) are facing foreclosure, but real estate attorneys see alternative options for struggling owners. ThreeIfByBike / Flickr

Skift Take: The hotel industry is struggling under months of cratered occupancy and revenue. But there may be a way to avoid foreclosure with the bank — as long as your hotel was doing fine before the pandemic.

— Cameron Sperance

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Hilton, Hyatt and Others Pull Back the Curtain on Making Hygiene More Than Theater

NeferJanah Meistrup  / Wikimedia

Critics argue safety measures like temperature checks are more theatrical than effective against the spread of coronavirus. Hotel brands say they help build guest confidence. NeferJanah Meistrup / Wikimedia

Skift Take: Strong communication and decision-making power at the local level are key to making heightened hotel cleaning measures succeed in an ever-changing pandemic information environment.

— Cameron Sperance

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Venice Marks Historic Day as Flood Barrier ‘Stopped the Sea’

Roberto Trombetta  / Flickr.com

A flooded scene in Venice on October 28, 2012. The city built a flood barrier that is stopping high tides from overrunning the city. Roberto Trombetta / Flickr.com

Skift Take: From overtourism to a stark absence of tourists, tourism dynamics have rocked Venice and its citizens. The new flood barrier should at least provide some assurance for awhile that at least the tides won’t sink the city’s prospects.

— Dennis Schaal

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