Accor's MEA CEO Mark Willis On How His Hospitality Brand Handled The Impact Of The COVID-19 Pandemic "We've been heavily impacted over the last six months, but now is the time to look forward and take a positive position on what that future looks like."

You're reading Entrepreneur Middle East, an international franchise of Entrepreneur Media.

With great certainty, we can say that hardly ever have CEOs of hotel chains seen as strong an impact on their businesses as the COVID-19 pandemic. In an interview with Entrepreneur Middle East, Mark Willis, CEO - Middle East and Africa, Accor, talks about managing a crisis of a lifetime -travel restrictions and national lockdowns causing the instability of economies and businesses around the world- and how Accor's people and guest-focused approach to the COVID-19 pandemic helped them to emerge stronger. "We've been heavily impacted over the last six months, but now is the time to look forward and take a positive position on what that future looks like," says Willis. "We have a portfolio of wonderful brands at Accor, and although the market remains subdued, that will not last. As you move out of 2020 and into 2021, the dynamics of business and the demand in our industry will start to come back."

Related: Experiences Matter: Yigit Sezgin, Chief Commercial Officer - MEA, Accor, On How The Hospitality Brand Is Driving Its Offerings In The Post COVID-19 Era

Starting a Business

These Yale Students Raised $3 Million in 14 Days to Build Their 'Anti-Facebook' Startup: 'I Can See My Childhood Self Looking Up to Me.'

Two 21-year-old Yale juniors are changing digital networking with Series, an AI-powered platform backed by $3 million in venture capital.

Business Ideas

70 Small Business Ideas to Start in 2025

We put together a list of the best, most profitable small business ideas for entrepreneurs to pursue in 2025.

Productivity

101 Time Management Tips to Boost Productivity Every Day

There is much, large and small, you can do to eliminate inefficiencies and get more done every hour you work.

Social Media

How To Start a Youtube Channel: Step-by-Step Guide

YouTube can be a valuable way to grow your audience. If you're ready to create content, read more about starting a business YouTube Channel.

Business News

'I've Never Regretted Leaving the Corporate World Behind': This Former Lawyer Now Makes Six Figures on YouTube — Here's How

Here are the secrets to starting and growing a successful YouTube channel, according to a YouTuber with millions of subscribers.