We all knew 2009 will be tough. We did not get here overnight but we knew something is coming up. Did we do anything to change this?

Here are 10 things you can do to survive this turbulence time.

• Change your source markets or at least try
• Visit all your key accounts and listen to them
• Contact your previous customers and ask about their future plans
• Get your General Manager to call your loyal customers
• Introduce short stay packages with real value
• Set up online rates but fence them regularly and tactfully
• Go to China and attract incentive leisure groups
• Put your staff on cross departmental training
• Introduce industry rates for travel agents
• Do not discount on your daily room rates

Since the world is going through an economic hard time, demand will be slow and occupancy will not grow. Remember, if you discount on rates to drive occupancy, your RevPAR will decline hence affecting your bottom line.