A message from our CEO, Mike Pnematicatos

No one would have thought, at the start of 2020, how things would change in a short four or five months.

There is no doubt our industry has taken a hammering. Airlines stopped flying. Some countries closed borders. Populations were put in lockdown. Most hotels and resort properties were closed. Staff were furloughed.

The impact, both from a business and an individual point of view, has been tremendous. No one has been unaffected.

But as we enter the second half of 2020, we find our industry lifting its head above the parapets. We are taking our first cautious steps to re-open properties. Some airlines have started flying again. Borders are opening, and lockdown measures are being eased. The finger has been lifted off the pause button, and the music is slowly beginning to play.

There are still challenges, but it is incredible how we have all risen to these challenges and found solutions.

Working from home is now the norm. I believe many companies will find that there is no need to have people “come to the office” every day.

Of course, some roles have to be performed “at work”, but many administrative functions can be performed just as efficiently while working from home.

In the past few editions of our newsletter, we have shared ideas about the many different technologies that are available to make working from home possible and efficient.

Cloud computing, in all its forms, is now de-rigueur for every business. You can imagine how proud we at Merlin Software have felt that our Merlin platform was ideally suited to this new normal.

The entire Merlin Support Team simply carried on as usual from their homes without missing a beat. As did all our clients. While their properties may have been closed, their ability to service their clients continued without interruption.

Two things I have noticed over the past few months that leave a warm glow inside of me.

The first was the fantastic way our clients, and we came together to find solutions to the impact that the fall off of business had on them and, of course, by implication on us. We stood together.

The second was the way our Merlin family held the line and supported each other, despite very uncertain times. We each had a role to play, and we each had each other’s back. Thank you, Merlin Team.

But that’s the past. We can remember and learn from it. What of the future?

I have always tried to be forward-looking and, hopefully, visionary. In this time of total change, all I can do is give you the advice I kept giving myself at the start and throughout the pandemic:

• There is no point in fighting this. It is bigger than any one of us.

• Don’t waste energy fighting things you cannot change.

• Adapt to the change. Find new ways of doing business.

• Adapt your product or service or create new products and services, ones that will be needed in the new world that has arrived.

• Make a to-do list, get down and do stuff. Keep active. There is no time to wait for things to get better.

• In practical terms, there is no point in trying to break through the wall in front of you, a barrier that is blocking your path. Go around. Go under or over. Do not waste your energy trying the break the wall down.

That was my pitch to myself throughout, and it continues.

I used the pause time for strategic thinking, even though we were kept wonderfully busy by our clients. I believe that out of adversity comes strength. I hope we will be stronger and lighter on our feet as we move into the future.

I wish you good luck into the future and promise to bring you new features in the future editions of our newsletter that will focus less on pandemics and more on ideas.

Thank you

Mike Pnematicatos

We would love to know how you and your resort are planning to bounce back after the Covid-19 pandemic. Please complete our five-minute, anonymous survey, and share your experiences.