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Photo by Christopher Lugo/Staff Old Edwards president Richard Delany credits his team's response to the COVID-19 pandemic part of the reason for their success.
According to Old Edwards Inn president Richard Delany, the resort had its best year ever in 2021.
“It has been a very wacky 18 plus months for us,” Delany said. “We closed down in March 2020 for about six weeks then reopened in May 2020. Since then, it has been record months ever since.”
Delany said he feels bad for other people in the industry but being in a small mountain town has helped Old Edwards.
“I feel bad for the people in our industry that are in bigger cities that have not fared so well,” Delany said. “I think being in a small town and being outside of the bigger populations has helped a lot of hotels like us, Blackberry Farms and other places that have done really well.”
With COVID-19 still lingering around, Delany said since the beginning of the pandemic Old Edwards implemented thorough safety standards.
“We communicated with our guests and let them know exactly what we were doing,” Delany said. “I think because Old Edwards is as spread out as it is, it is not a big box hotel where you’re running into people in corridors, that gave people a really good sense of social distancing.”
Delany credits the record year to the pandemic and the proximity to bigger markets.
“People weren’t able to fly to Europe and take vacations, but still wanted to have their vacations,” Delany said. “Being only miles away from Atlanta, Knoxville, Greenville, Birmingham and so on, put us in a good position for people to drive to us for vacations and feel safe.”
Over the past year, Delany said he has learned a lot.
“We have learned so much, from day one we learned to adapt to the governor and town’s mandates,” Delany said. “We constantly tried to do the right thing. I think what I’ve learned this past year is that you constantly have to be flexible, and you have to be honest. From day one we were totally transparent about any positive COVID cases we had. We were one of the first companies in Macon County to have four or five positive COVID cases, which right now, sounds like nothing, but back in the beginning it was a pretty big deal. We were totally transparent with our guests and totally transparent with our safety protocols and I think that transparency and communication with our guests made them feel like they could trust us. Same with our employees, we have been honest with them from day one, not trying to hide anything from them. We continue to do that even today as we go through this outbreak again. You have to be able to adapt and change to what is needed.”
Looking forward, Delany said he is ready for the day when he can have a meeting without discussing COVID.
“I can’t tell you the amount of hours my executive team and I have spent trying to deal with this pandemic versus concentrating on more positive things like guest experience,” Delany said. “I really hope where I can see a day in 2022 where we can put this behind us. It’s always going to be around, but hopefully we can try and concentrate on other things. I think 2022 is going to be another busy year for us and many of the other businesses up here. Our future bookings show just that. The reports are showing stronger than 2021. I’ve spoken with many of my friends who are in the same situation.”
- By Christopher Lugo