NEW YORK -- Ellie Colin is an independent travel advisor with Ovation Travel Group. She is also president of Elite Team.Colin said, "I haven’t seen The Plaza for so long." "It's amazing to be back in the city, even though I live in New York. Central Park is right around the corner.Colin was staying at the Plaza, which has recently been reopened. This is part of Ovation’s Sunday in The City program through which the agency arranges mini-fam tours for its advisors to notable New York properties. The pandemic caused the program to be halted. July's Plaza overnight event was the first Sunday in City fam since the pause last year.Interviews with Ovation agents over the weekend revealed that pent-up demand doesn't just apply to consumers. Advisors are also eager to be back on the road.Beverly Waldman, Ovation Travel Group's director of leisure industry relations, said that these types of visits are crucial today. It's about looking at what hotels did while they were closed and where they are now. It's also our way to see firsthand the current occupancy rates. This can be a great way for us to help them as one of their partners."It is also important to consider whether the reopened property can be adapted in a way that provides sufficient service and amenities.In anticipation of the summer travel season, the Plaza was closed in March 2020 due to pandemic. It reopened in May. Photo credit: The Plaza Hotel"A room is just a room. But it's the experience that makes a hotel stay memorable." Waldman stated that luxury requires a high level of service.One of the most famous properties in the city is The Plaza. Fairmont manages it as a luxury hotel. It also houses Eloise, the fictional character from the children's book series. The Plaza is a meeting place for executives, dignitaries and ladies who dine out, and it is also home to the Palm Court restaurant.In May 2020, the landmark hotel overlooking Central Park was closed because of the pandemic. It was reopened in May in anticipation of the summer travel season.Denese Senno is a luxury advisor at Ovation. She said that it has been crucial for city hotels to raise the bar in order to be competitive during the pandemic.Senno stated that city hotels must do more than resort hotels to stay on top of the times. "Their prices don't get any lower so they have to keep up with the times, at least in the luxury market."The Plaza exceeded all expectations during the Sunday in the City fam. It hosted a small group of five advisors at afternoon tea at Palm Court. This was followed by a site inspection.Two horse-drawn carriages took the Ovation team to Central Park, where they made their way past the trees before dropping them off at the Tavern on the Green, a New York institution.There were few empty tables, indicating that the city is on the verge of a full recovery.Related: The current mindset of travelers: High-end and high-spendSenno stated that she has seen a lot of New York regional travel demand over the past few months. She said that many of these clients paid more for larger rooms or suite upgrades than they would normally.Senno found that clients nowadays are less interested in catching Covid, and more concerned about luxury travel as the "new normal".She explained that they are more concerned about the quality of the service or the availability of food and beverages. "They have to be able to manage their expectations."Senno found that these worries didn't have any effect on demand.Senno stated that travel is the new toilet tissue. It is essential for everyone, and everyone wants it. My clients are desperate to travel and I am happy for them. You must be prepared to pivot, expect delays and book meals in advance, as there are strict capacity controls. They all know that.It's more than just finding a hotel online. There are many moving parts.
