NewHavenBIZ

n e w h a v e n b i z . c o m | J u n e 2 0 2 2 | n e w h a v e n B I Z 13 Call us 800-475-2265 or visit washtrust.com Any bank can give you a decision. WE REPLACE red tape with local decision makers who can give you an answer quickly. James M. Hagerty Executive Vice President, Chief Lending Officer Julia Anne Slom Senior Vice President, Team Leader, Commercial Real Estate Anthony Botelho Senior Vice President, Team Leader Kevin Hanrahan Vice President, Commercial Real Estate Albert R. Clemente Vice President, Commercial Real Estate Thomas D. Pizzo Vice President and Market Leader, Commercial Banking Edward O. Handy III Chairman and Chief Executive Officer Member FDIC. and the community at large. e influx of weddings at the Omni New Haven at Yale matches the pent-up demand hotels across the country are seeing. He says 90% of Americans are telling researchers they are planning "a big trip" this summer and tap- ping savings from clothes and meals they didn't buy and trips they didn't take over the past two years. On the other hand, Ballard says the rise of online meetings may force hoteliers to adapt to a new base- line expectation for business travel that's 10% to 20% lower than pre-pandemic levels. Staffing woes ere are important headwinds to a full recovery, he warns, that go beyond inflation and domestic COVID concerns. One is the shortage of international travelers, who are turned off by stiff COVID testing protocols that remain in place for foreign visitors. His company, listed by Experian as one of the top 50 travel sites in the country, has urged Congress to ease the restric- tions. He calls the restrictions "the No. 1 disincentive" for travel to the U.S. Zimmerman says she's seeing the impact first hand in New Haven where few international parents showed up for Yale's commencement this year. Ballard also points to labor shortages as a factor across the country as the "Great Resignation" takes its toll. Maids, wait staff and cooks are all in short supply, he says. e result is restaurants being closed early in the week and hotels offering maid service only by request. Kozlowski says the Connecticut hospitality indus- try was hit hard by pandemic layoffs and still has thousands of unfilled jobs across the state. She points to the Omni New Haven at Yale as a rare exception. Zimmerman says the hotel's status as the city's only unionized hotel sets it apart. Wages are higher and turnover is less than other hotels, she says. Her sales team was decimated when the pandemic forced the hotel to close but all returned when the Omni reopened, she explains. And the hotel has shown great flexibility in helping part-time employ- ees in one area pick up hours in another area of the operation. From his national vantage point, Ballard has some suggestions for New Haven's hotel industry: • Play to your strengths. Target weekend travel- ers from nearby states and point out the under-appre- ciated attractions like Connecticut's wine trail; • Work on your weaknesses. New Haven still has a lingering reputation as a dangerous place. A public safety campaign and some marketing would help. • Ride the wave. Do a great job on those wed- dings and leisure travelers. Impress them and they'll become repeat guests. From a local perspective, Zimmerman says service additions at Tweed New Haven Airport present an opportunity to find new business and suggest a rec- ognition that the Elm City — particularly its red-hot biotech sector — will be a growing market for busi- ness, whenever business travel gears up again. n PHOTO | LIESE KLEIN The Hotel Marcel in the former Pirelli building on Long Wharf in New Haven debuted last month.

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