Prime Minister Naftali Bennett's decision regarding the entry of vaccinated tourists from 11/11 has in fact opened a race of preparations for a "return to routine" among the tourism industry and hoteliers in Israel.
In fact, this is a real first swallow for a return to the routine of domestic tourism after two particularly difficult and bleeding years for the industry that desperately needs an oxygen balloon to collect the fragments.
Idit Levy Simon - CEO of Crowne Plaza, VERT and Indigo Hotels in the Tel Aviv area talks about the excitement, preparations and hope for a return to a full routine.
How are you preparing for the arrival of tourists to Israel?
"We are more prepared than ever to receive tourists and businessmen for almost two years that tourists did not enter the hotels and the excitement is great and so are the preparations for. In the reservation centers and operation The business sales managers all returned from the hospital and we even recruited additional sales managers for the benefit of these departments.
In the Crowne Plaza hotels, the business lounge was closed and we are now preparing for the arrival of the businessmen to reopen. "
The Indigo Hotel recently opened after a long period without tourists, Photo: Photo: PR
Do you already see bookings from tourists from abroad?
"In recent days we are seeing more traffic. It's hard to call it a revival but there are orders from both the business segment and inbound tourism from European and US countries.
We see a fair number of orders from businessmen that already exist in the system as well as requests and requests for quotes for the near future.
But of course that is not enough, certainly not in hotels that in the pre-Corona era the percentage of tourists and business people was about 80-90% of all hotel guests. "
Where is the greatest demand?
"The greatest demand is for Tel Aviv, but the Dead Sea and Eilat are also gaining a lot of interest among applicants. Tel Aviv is mainly based on the business and tourism segment, and hotels close to the beach and entertainment and shopping centers are a priority among tourists."
Edith Levy Simon: "Prices will be cheap compared to 2019",
How significant is the decision to allow tourists to enter the country for you?
"The decision is very significant for the entire industry, which has suffered fatal damage since the beginning of the Corona epidemic. The industry was the first to close and the last to open, including the entry of tourists to Israel. The neighborhood kiosk through the cafe on the street corner.In the city of Tel Aviv the decision to allow entry is of immense importance, since the hotels in Tel Aviv are based on foreign and business tourism.Of our 4 hotels in Tel Aviv only one hotel has been open in the last year and a half, They have been closed since March 2020 and have only recently opened as they are purely business hotels. "
Is the price range the same for 2019?
"2019 was a record year in terms of tourist arrivals in the country, demand was very high and depending on prices. Unfortunately despite the opening of the sky we are not expected to reach high occupancy, supply is very high and demand is low so prices will be cheap compared to 2019."
