Ljubljana hotel chain battles coronacrisis with inventive solutions
The group has pointed out in a press release that most industries have been facing tough business conditions since the start of the epidemic in early March this year, including the hotel industry. Thus, the management has been looking for new opportunities in addition to traditional business models since the state of emergency began.
They started to rent out available hotel units to students in the renovated Central Hotel and the new youth hotel The Fuzzy Log, rent out real estate for office space, and they are actively trying to attract domestic tourists by offering various package deals for a short holiday in Ljubljana.
Their marketing strategy for foreign tourists is targeting markets within driving distance from Slovenia.
"Most of the newly introduced business solutions have proven to be successful, as the rooms rented out to students are almost completely full," they added.
The coronavirus crisis has severely affected Slovenian tourism. According to the Slovenian Tourist Board, international arrivals will be 70% lower than last year.
The state has come to the aid of the industry with tourism vouchers, which especially helped hotels on the coast, in mountain destinations and spas, but they did not bring much profit to city hoteliers.
The Union Hotels Collection consists of five hotels: Grand Hotel Union, Uhotel, Hotel Lev, Central Hotel and The Fuzzy Log.