Jean-Louis Ripoche: One needs to adapt quickly rather than wait for things to improve

The general manager of Kathmandu Marriott Hotel on the challenges of running a luxury hotel in the midst of a pandemic and the future of the hotel industry in Nepal.

Like almost every other industry in the country, the hotel industry too has had to confront an unprecedented challenge brought forth by the pandemic. The months of lockdown and a blanket ban on foreign tourists has hit the industry hard, particularly the high-end hotel segment, which relies heavily on foreign travellers. While the lockdown has now been eased and travel restrictions on trekkers and mountaineers lifted, the industry is cautiously optimistic about the future.