{"id":404580,"date":"2020-12-22T09:51:26","date_gmt":"2020-12-22T14:51:26","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/www.marketnewsdesk.com\/?p=404580"},"modified":"2020-12-22T09:51:26","modified_gmt":"2020-12-22T14:51:26","slug":"fau-hospitality-expert-pent-up-demand-could-buoy-cruise-lines-in-2021-but-other-segments-face-long-road-back","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.marketnewsdesk.com\/index.php\/fau-hospitality-expert-pent-up-demand-could-buoy-cruise-lines-in-2021-but-other-segments-face-long-road-back\/","title":{"rendered":"FAU Hospitality Expert: Pent-Up Demand Could Buoy Cruise Lines in 2021, but Other Segments Face Long Road Back"},"content":{"rendered":"

\nExpect More Restaurant Closures, Hotel Consolidations in New Year
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BOCA RATON, Fla., Dec. 22, 2020 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — The hospitality and tourism industry will lead Florida out of the coronavirus pandemic starting in 2021, but a full recovery likely will take years, says an industry expert within Florida Atlantic University\u2019s College of Business<\/a>.<\/p>\n

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention could relax its guidelines on cruising, whose pent-up demand is higher than most other industry segments, once about 20 million COVID-19 vaccines have been distributed, according to Peter Ricci<\/a>, Ed.D, director of FAU\u2019s Hospitality and Tourism Management program<\/a>.<\/p>\n

The cruise industry has the highest guest satisfaction ratings among any area of the hospitality and tourism industry, and the highest repeat percentage among any sector, he explained.<\/p>\n

Ricci said major cruise lines likely will have full occupancy during their initial cruises, with demand heavy through 2023 and beyond. But expect activities and excursions to accommodate social distancing, and don\u2019t count on those midnight buffets.<\/p>\n

\u201cThe risk takers are ready to sail and are just awaiting approval,\u201d Ricci said.<\/p>\n

But he isn\u2019t as optimistic about other industry segments, including theme parks, hotels and restaurants.<\/p>\n

In 2021 and beyond, theme parks will struggle to reach prior attendance levels as global travelers remain cautious about overcrowding. Parades and fireworks displays, the decades-long mainstay for many attractions and theme parks, will have to be revisited. Outdoor seating with sufficient spacing between visitors isn\u2019t a feasible plan, Ricci said.<\/p>\n

\u201cTheme parks and national parks will benefit from the perception that you can\u2019t get COVID-19 while outdoors, but that\u2019s just not true,\u201d Ricci said. \u201cStill, theme parks have the ability to respond faster than other industry segments because of the perception that the outdoor environment is safer.\u201d<\/p>\n

Ricci offers more 2021 predictions for Florida and the nation:<\/p>\n