Could Coronavirus Kill Off The Hotel Buffet Forever?

We all realise that travel in a post-pandemic world won’t look the same. Hotels and cruise lines have already announced many changes, and sadly for all you can eat lovers, the hotel buffet may never return.

The end of the buffet is a top post-COVID-19 travel prediction released by STR, a firm that tracks supply and demand data for the global hotel industry.

“The buffet breakfast may never be seen again. So, there’s a lot of things that we need to rethink,”

Senior manager at STR Emile Gourieux

“At least at the very beginning of recovery when people are coming back, people are going to be very leery about close contact,” she explained.

“So, the hotels that succeed and thrive are going to be the ones that find a way to address that anxiety.”

This will likely see more in room dining options for families.

“A lot of all-inclusives have different dining options where you have the buffet, that’s going to be tough. Even a la carte, they’re going to have to cut capacity by half to allow social distancing,” she said.

“So where hotels can add value in comfort and confidence that’s going to be a plus. Offering a special dinner on a beach where you secluded and comfortable, that’s going to be a plus.”

One thing is for sure Post-pandemic, travellers will be looking for even higher standards of cleanliness.

This may be delivered in the form of a lot more hand sanitizer, disinfectant wipes and other hygiene and cleaning products on offer for guests.

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