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AH&LA's McInerney

Hotel operators need to be prepared. But they shouldn't panic.

By Maria Wood | Updated on May 04, 2009

As more people worldwide are sickened by the swine flu, hotel owners are overcome with a growing sense of deja vu. Back in 2003, when the SARS virus broke out in Hong Kong and spread to Toronto, cross-border treks came nearly to a standstill. For instance, according to a report prepared by PKF Consulting, Canada’s lodging industry lost an estimated $491 million in revenues in the second quarter of ’03.

This time around, with a deep recession to contend with, hoteliers not only face unprecedented drops in RevPAR but the prospect of a worldwide flu epidemic further constraining global travel. Therefore, the question for the lodging industry now is, will this a have long-term impact or will it be short-lived?

A recent poll on GlobeSt.com asked readers whether the swine flu outbreak will further decimate the hotel sector or would not have a long-term impact. A clear majority–62%–said the effect would not be lasting. GlobeSt.com asked Joseph A. McInerney, president and CEO of the American Hotel & Lodging Association, for his take regarding the impact of the swine flu scare on the hospitality business.

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