Empty hotels adopt new tricks: turn apartments into apartments, offices, cinemas or conference rooms | 15MAX

If at the beginning of the season the hotels in the capital were full, and last fall the occupancy was around 60 percent, in October this year its occupancy did not reach 30 percent. Due to the drastic reduction in business and tourist travel due to the COVID-19 pandemic, hotels had to find ways to attract Lithuanians.

Office and restaurant in one

For example, the five-star Grand Hotel Kempinski Vilnius has transformed 10 hotel rooms into offices in response to the country’s growing need for safe and privacy-friendly workspaces.

The work rooms are equipped with work areas with Internet access.

The hotel’s Telegraf restaurant and bar, Le Salon, has also been moved into some of the hotel’s rooms, which have been transformed into private dining rooms without beds.

“After the quarantine and restrictions on the catering facilities, the entire hotel management team was looking for a solution on how we could continue to provide our services with the highest level of protection for the health of guests and the highest standards of hygiene. That is how the idea of ​​turning the rooms into private restaurants came about, ”said Laura Balčiūnienė, head of the hotel’s food and beverage department.

Up to 2 people can visit the private restaurant or bar.

The hotel also offers longer stays in September. Then Kai Schukowski, CEO of Kempinski Hotel Cathedral Square 15 minutes He said management made the decision to try something new.

“We are currently experiencing a difficult period, especially for our industry, so we cannot continue with the same as always and expect the same results. It just won’t happen. That’s why we thought about doing something different, creative and trying something new, ”he said then.

READ MORE: Working from home threatens the future of offices: will it adapt or disappear?

Highlight the benefits of larger rooms

Danielas Baranowskis, CEO of the 4-star Radisson Blu Hotel Lietuva 15 minutes said that the sharp drop in travel volumes and demand for rooms had made hotels more creative in their offerings. For example, a hotel called “Lietuvos” offers office and meeting services in the room. This allows clients to virtually participate in the work environment while enjoying the facilities and services offered by the hotel.