Page 28 - StudyTravel Magazine July/August 2021 Issue

SPECIAl REPORT

The new future of sions with international agents, “Because social distancing is likely
accommodation Michele has gauged that the appetite to remain this will mean that accom-
for youth and study travel is still there. modation operators will need to make
Despite the many challenges the sec- “We are already receiving bookings a number of ongoing adjustments to
tor has faced over the last 18 months for imminent arrivals from countries maintain this,” he says, adding that
there is a real air of optimism among that are currently on the green list and business will not simply ‘go back to
student accommodation providers. have every expectation that demand normal’. Nonetheless, in the interim,
Harsha is confident that homestay for international travel will increase as Umang hints at plans for more student
accommodation will become more soon as restrictions are lifted in vari- residences as well as expansion
popular than it was pre-pandemic. ous countries.” into Latin America and Europe, “to
“We still believe and have huge confi- Luffy at GEC agrees and predicts actively support agents with student
dence that homestay accommodation a V-shaped bounce-back in demand accommodation to return to a more
is the safest accommodation and will post-pandemic. Rather than shared dynamic market”.
become even more popular than it was accommodation, however, she Meanwhile, Spotahome plans
before. This is through its safety, flex- predicts greater demand for single to expand into 100 cities across
ibility, for our pledge and guarantees occupancy accommodation. Europe and the Middle East this
on accommodation availability, as well Looking beyond the immediate year, says María, and is dedicating
as quality and safety for international challenges of Covid-19, Umang cau- more time and resources to working
students of all ages.” tions that the future of the student with language schools, universities,
Through online attendance at vari- accommodation sector still depends business schools, agents and
ous events and having had discus- on when student mobility is restored. student associations.

says Umang. European markets able to expand our business beyond residents and maintain, on average,
were particularly keen to travel the student market at some of our 70 per cent occupancy.”
again, he adds. Furthermore, with own sites, allowing them to continue Spotahome www.spotahome.com,
the successful roll out of the UK’s operating,” says Michele. an online booking platform specialising
vaccination programme other markets Like Britannia, Hosts International in non-vacation home rentals of
also started to recover. “Within the also diversified its target audience. over 30 days, covers nine countries
last three months, we have found that “We now attract a lot of younger and 14 European cities. According to
bookings have increased further from students, home-based domestic International Partnerships Manager,
Asia Pacific along with CIS Countries,” students, and different sources not María Ordovás, it too experienced an
says Umang. “As the UK vaccine just from language schools but the initial wave of cancellations when
programme has rapidly been rolled wider industry as well,” notes Harsha. the pandemic first hit. However,
out, this has given a lot of parents and Having a more adaptable business the market soon adjusted with a
students the confidence to return to model worked for GEC www. significant growth in the number of
the UK.” gecliving.com, the largest off- properties opting to advertise on its
Britannia continued to campus student accommodation platform and increased interest from
accommodate students and youth facility in Vancouver, Canada. When local and national students. Those
travellers, as well as offer support Canadian borders were closed to studying and/or working remotely
and quarantine services at its London new international travellers in (known as digital nomads) proved a
and Brighton sites throughout the March 2020, GEC quickly shifted its new source market, too, confirms
pandemic, notes Michele. Being target demographic to help fill the María, accounting for 40 per cent of
flexible with bookings and looking shortfall in bookings, explains GEC total rentals.
outside of the traditional student Marketing Manager, Luffy Ding. “We Several accommodation providers
market has been key to continued were fortunate enough that all our made a conscious effort to update
business. “Britannia has always been residences were operational during their policies in response to the
flexible in outlook, offering short- and the pandemic. Due to the flexibility pandemic and in some cases even
long-term accommodation, all year in our accommodation, we were create a blueprint for others
round. As we operate various property able to shift our target demographic in the industry. For example,
types on a flexible basis, we were from international students to local Hosts International was one

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