88.3 FM WBGO: NYC Hotel Pandemic Related Struggles Continue
October 24, 2021 7:02 AM
The New York City Hotel industry continues to struggle because of the coronavirus pandemic. The Hotel Association of New York City says the occupancy is at 51 percent compared to 90 percent pre pandemic. About 140 hotels remain closed. President of the Hotel Association Vijay Dandapani thinks the US easing COVID international travel restrictions November 8th will help but it won’t be enough.
“The other elements are not there. That is conventions, conferences business travel. The best guest for a hotel is a business traveler. They pay top dollar. They are just not there right now.”
He thinks it’s unfair that Mayor de Blasio recently signed legislation forcing large hotel owners who shut or had mass layoffs to pay worker severance benefits.