Pandemic

Cruel Summer

Inside the Halting of the Hotel Industry

Few industries have been impacted by COVID-19 like the hotel industry. As the virus spread, and confusion along with it, nobody was sure exactly what to do. We spoke with a handful of hotel owners and operators to find out how they handled what turned out to be an unprecedented summer.

Unprecedented

A Hotel in Paris Was Never Meant to Close

On March 16, as France announced its COVID-19 lockdown, the C.O.Q. Hotel in Paris closed its doors. Thing is, not every hotel is meant to be closed. A city hotel like C.O.Q. is meant to welcome guests day and night through the workweek, weekends, and holidays. There was no precedent. “We aren’t supposed to cut off the water or electricity,” explained manager Florian Bitker. “We don’t even have a secure front door.”

Accidental Tourist

A Story of Being Stuck Far From Home

In the midst of the global pandemic, stories of stranded travelers, aborted trips, and international uncertainty abound. Based in Manila, our French editor Manon Tomzig describes getting out from under a harsh lockdown in the Philippines only to wind up a trapped tourist in France.

Port in a Storm

Wythe Hotel Shines a Beacon in Brooklyn

As COVID-19 escalated in New York City, we’d heard heart-wrenching stories of hospital workers sleeping in their cars to avoid exposing their families to the virus. The Wythe Hotel had heard these stories too, and they wanted to help.

Marriage Story

Rebecca Schönheit had a big wedding planned for April. Because of the coronavirus, her plans changed.