COVID-19 walloped the business travel and events industry; by April 2020, U.S. airline capacity declined about 70% from 2019 — that’s nearly four times greater than after the 9/11 attacks and six times greater than the aftermath of the 2008–09 financial crisis. The pandemic necessitated global travel restrictions, prohibitions on large group gatherings, and corporate cutbacks. As we head into summer 2021, however, the group sales segment is poised for its long-awaited comeback. With 355 million people fully vaccinated worldwide, countries and companies are finally emerging from lockdowns and easing public health restrictions.
Yet the return won’t happen all at once; to be ready, you have to know where to begin. Join us for a panel discussion, hosted by Cornell's School of Hotel Administration and the Center for Hospitality Research, to find out what hospitality professionals can do now to prepare for the imminent return of corporate group sales and events. Innovators from Salesforce, Allseated, IBM, and Knowland will assess the state of the industry and discuss how to respond, pivot, and upskill for post-pandemic success.
