EDITOR’S COMMENT These are strange times. The world feels like it has been turned upside down. And much like that moment almost 20 years ago, when we watched one plane and then another fly into the iconic Twin Towers in New York City, it feels like we are living in a movie. Like somehow what is unfolding on the social media streams in front of us, on the news feeds and on TV just cannot be real. But, unfortunately it is. And there will be pain, sadness and some really tough times ahead for individuals, loved ones and businesses.
We are seeing the impact of coronavirus bite already, with companies that had been struggling before the pandemic now expecting even darker times. Barely an hour goes by without another business announcing that its expectations for 2020 have been cut massively. Hotel chains around the world have slashed RevPAR predictions, retailers are expecting revenue and profit to fall by tens of millions of pounds, and restaurants, theatres, pubs, clubs and cinemas have been forced to shut up shop. This will be disastrous for many businesses, even with the chancellor’s ambitious care package.
But this is not the end of the world as we know it. This is a crisis, yes. A global crisis. But it is also an opportunity to learn. To get lean, to innovate, to become more productive, to understand the value of time, space, humanity. We have all been through crises before, personally and in business. We come out the other side. Not unscathed, not unchanged, but we come through.
Now is the time we should be looking to our people, to our partners, to those who need us and those that we need – in business and in life generally. The way we overcome is through understanding, learning and being human. We should help those who need it when and where we can. Business still needs to continue, so widespread rental holidays, mass cuts in costs and fees may not be possible, but taking time to understand the needs and concerns of the people and businesses we work with is absolutely possible. It is vital if we want to come out of this crisis stronger and together that we collaborate, that we bend where before we could not.
I really hope that we come out of this situation changed for the better. My inbox has been inundated with e-mails about how businesses are responding to Covid-19, looking after their people, making sure they can still service clients, investing in and using technology to make sure we all remain connected to one another. Will this spark a movement in our sector to publish and showcase how it is responding to the other crises we face – talent, environment, equality, etc? I hope so.
In these strange times it is easy to focus on the horror stories. There will be plenty after all. And I can’t promise that we won’t write many of them. But we must also focus on how we can change for the better throughout this crisis.
Less air travel and less commuting has already had a profound impact on air quality around the world. We’re giving our planet a breather. Let’s think about how, post-coronavirus, we can continue that. And alongside every example of selfish behaviour in our shops there are other stories of individuals (and companies) putting others first, reaching out to help the vulnerable. Providing services, checking in, promising they will continue to support, that they’ll be back when all of this is over and that they’ll be here for them right now.
We will certainly be trying to do that here at EG. We will be providing information, news, analysis and expert advice to you all not just through these pages, but online and through an entirely free-to-access special coronavirus page.
If you are unable to access your office print copy, update your profile at subscribe.estatesgazette.com/myaccount to switch your delivery address temporarily to home – and if you add your e-mail address we will send you a digital version for free.
Where we are unable to hold events, we will create virtual gatherings through audio and video webcasts, enabling you to not just stay informed but stay connected to this industry and each other. We will work hard to support you and your businesses to get through these strange times. I hope you will help us too.
We are not just better together, we are stronger. Look after yourselves – and each other.
To send feedback, e-mail samantha.mcclary@egi.co.uk or tweet @samanthamcclary or @estatesgazette
