Local
article by Pamela Spradlin Mahajan photos by Molly Kuplen
business
Looking Ahead Staff at Shawnee’s newest hotel is optimistic about 2022.
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hen Fairfield Inn & Suites by Marriot opened its first Shawnee location in September 2019, it looked as if the inn was on track for a successful first year. But just a few months later, COVID-19 struck, and business as we knew it came to a grinding halt. “Whatever we dreamed of, we never thought that could happen in the hotel industry. It was stressful,” says Sonny Singh, regional manager and director of operations for Fairfield Inn & Suites by Marriott. “Eight out of 10 rooms were empty. It was a crazy time, but we survived with the help of PPP loans, and we tightened our belt for a couple of months … we made it work.” Singh’s company is far from the only business that needed help surviving during the pandemic. According to the Small Business Administration, Paycheck Protection Program (PPP) loans amounted to $790 billion in 2020–2021. In addition to relying on loans, the Fairfield Inn & Suites by Marriott was forced to reduce its staff from 20–25 employees to 10–15 employees. They also temporarily closed the neighboring Comfort Inn and Suites, owned by the same management company, and directed customers to Fairfield Inn & Suites during the peak of the pandemic, when the staff was often only booking one or two rooms a day. As COVID rates decline and travel begins to increase, Singh is hopeful business will steadily improve. Still, getting back to how things were before the pandemic is going to take some time. “Business is picking up some, it’s not fully there,” Singh says. “Our research suggests the return to pre-COVID levels could take until 2024 or later.” Fairfield Inn & Suites is now up to 50–55% occupancy versus the 38% occupancy the company experienced earlier in the pandemic. Their projected pre-pandemic occupancy
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