TOPHOTELNEWS Covid19 live blog roundup: hotel projects status in Europe

Empty Madrid during lockdown (Photo by: David Fernández)

We summarise updates shared on the TOPHOTELNEWS Covid19 live blog to draw a picture of how Europe’s hotel projects industry is negotiating the ongoing crisis.

The international hospitality industry has been sent into a tailspin with the sudden onslaught of the coronavirus crisis. From lockdowns to travel bans and border closures, hotels, bars and restaurants are having to navigate more uncertain waters than ever before.

TOPHOTELPROJECTS has been tracking in real-time the developments within the industry as it reacts to the continuing crisis, and we recap some of the recent activity that has been happening in Europe in response to the pandemic.

The good

Leading with the good news, there is hope on the horizon for Europe’s hotel industry. As restrictions are eased in countries such as Spain, Italy, Austria and Denmark, the hospitality industry is keeping a keen eye on developments and what they might mean for the reopening of properties and venues.

In Austria, one of the countries to be doing some of the heaviest lifting of restrictions, a date has been set for the reopening of hotels. On May 29th, Austrian accommodation venues will once again be able to welcome guests, but no doubt social distancing and strict hygiene regulations will be enforced.

Room Mate has outlined some new policies once the reopening of their properties in Spain occurs, with one strategy being to serve breakfast as room service as opposed to in a communal space.

Meanwhile in Germany, an ibis Styles in Nordlingen has had its official opening, but it is remaining closed for the time being until further restrictions are lifted. Over in Hannover, the new me and all hotel is not yet open, but is anticipating this in the near future as its booking system is now accepting reservations from the start of June.

The not-so-good

Of course, despite the silver linings in some parts of Europe for some properties and brands, the outlook for everyone is not that rosy. Many projects have been put on hold, a swathe of openings have been postponed and construction has stalled on other projects.

Construction on the Koncept Hotel Josefine Cologne should be completed by the end of May, but the property’s managers have held off on confirming the opening of the hotel until they know more about the future of the crisis. The Yotel in London’s Clerkenwell has also reached completion, but has not opened yet.

Despite the early lifting of restrictions in Denmark, the opening of the BOOK1 Design Hostel in Aarhus has been postponed, as has the opening of the Ibis Styles hotel in Klagenfurt, Germany, and the opening of the Adapt Hotel in Brunswick, Germany.

Many of the postponed openings have been pushed back to June, but it remains to be seen how the virus behaves once societies are reopened.