Hilton CEO Says Comeback Depends on How Quickly Contactless Tech Features Roll Out
Photo Credit: Hilton CEO Christopher Nassetta Wikimedia / World Travel & Tourism Council
Skift Take
Hotel tech innovations that were just beginning to roll out before coronavirus will likely become tech necessities, as companies look to limit guest interactions and do everything they can to assure a safe stay.
It is going to be a while before Hilton returns to last year’s performance levels.
Hilton had its strongest year on record during its centennial celebration in 2019, the company’s CEO Chris Nassetta said Tuesday during a Washington Post livestream. But the coronavirus pandemic forced the company to suspend operations at many of its hotels around the world and furlough a little more than 60 percent of its 430,000-person workforce. While there are very early signs part of Hilton’s portfolio is beginning to recover, Nassetta said it will take years and a new operational approach to return to its pre-coronavirus performance high.
“To get back to levels we saw in 2019, I think it takes three or four years,” he added. “It’s a health crisis, and we’re not through that by any means but maybe the epicenter. Then we’ll exit into an economic crisis.”
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