Tulsa Hotel Industry Adjusting To New Consumer Habits Due To COVID-19

As fewer people are heading out to travel, the hotel industry has had to adapt to the new habits. 

"There's been a huge decrease in occupancy, a huge decrease in revenue, travel patterns have changed especially business travel has changed extremely,” Metro Tulsa Hotel and Lodging Association president Steve Fischer said.

Fischer said the main difference hotels are seeing, especially in downtown Tulsa, is a lack of business travel.  

Several companies are no longer mandating their employees to travel on business trips.

"We are seeing different types of travelers: Much shorter booking windows, people making last-minute reservations," Fischer said. 

Cleanliness and safety are two of the top priorities for the industry. Fischer said many hotels have also had to deal with layoffs, meaning fewer workers are on staff.

"We have limited staff, so we've all been wearing many different hats, multitasking and cross training," Fischer said.

The news of a COVID-19 vaccine gives the industry some hope that things may return to normal soon.

"Hotels are prepared for guests to stay,” Fischer said. “It's just a matter of when it's going to return full force.”