Hotel hiatus:Sir Rocco Forte on business struggles during lockdowns - #TheAgenda
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Travel restrictions wiped out more than $138B in accommodation turnover in 2020, ending a decade of growth. Restrictions on leisure and business travel caused a slump in accommodation activity of more than 50 percent in the EU and the U.K. Hotel rooms have been gathering dust for more than a year, with some even being used as vaccination hubs.
But is there now finally room for optimism in the hospitality industry?
Sir Rocco Forte has been Chairman of the luxury chain Rocco Forte Hotels for almost 30 years (since 1992). The group owns 15 hotels around the world, including in Italy, London and Shanghai.
He received a knighthood in the UK New Year Honours list for his services to the tourism industry, and also received the highest Italian accolade, the Gran Croce dell’Ordine al Merito della Republicca Italiana, for his entrepreneurial merits and strong links with Italy in March 2005.
From 1991-1996, Sir Rocco Forte was President of the British Hospitality Association (the main trade body for the UK hotel and catering industry) and has also been an active member of the Executive Committee of the World Travel & Tourism Council.
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