With the beginning of a new year comes the planning of our trips for the next 365 days. And although we’re living in a weird time, with holidaying abroad still being frowned upon and not considered safe, the COVID-19 vaccine has provided us with some hope that travel might be back to normal in 2021. For those looking for inspiration, here are some of our favourite highly anticipated hotel openings for the new year from around the world.
Both the government and the average consumer are being forced to deal with debt more than ever before. But is there a healthier way to deal with spending?
After a year like 2020, attempting to predict the future is a risky game. To hear about his predictions for the investment trends that could take centre stage in 2021, we hear from Graham Norton-Standen.
The financial landscape has evolved tremendously over the past decade due, in part, to a significant increase in investment within the FinTech sector, as well as several regulatory changes which have accelerated digital innovation. These key factors, amongst others, have produced rather fertile ground for a new wave of digitally native challenger banks to grow, compete with, and exceed the value proposition of traditional banks, which were previously fairly untroubled by the lack of competitive intensity within the banking industry.
Volatility was the name of the game in 2020 as the pandemic wreaked havoc across the globe. The spread of COVID-19 was a shock to the financial system, stock markets plunged and companies battened down the hatches. But the easing of infection rates sparked dramatic recoveries, with indices in the US reaching record levels. Although the UK economy is still in an abyss, and the new more infectious strain of the virus is likely to set back recovery, there are still signs that the economy will emerge battered but resilient later this year. As vaccines are rolled out, output is boosted and huge sums of borrowed money are put to work. Investor confidence is making a comeback, with the UK and Europe registering their best score since January 2020. (Source: HL Investor Confidence Survey)
There’s no denying that COVID-19 threw cash its biggest challenge yet. Never before has the industry seen a dramatic shift away from cash to digital payment options. Contactless and mobile payments were deemed saviours of the pandemic, offering benefits that stretch beyond hygiene.
Card payments only’. ‘Contactless preferred’. ‘No cash accepted’. These phrases will be familiar to anyone who has ventured out to the shops since the onset of the coronavirus pandemic. While businesses have embraced big change in an effort to protect staff and reduce unnecessary physical contact; ‘small change’ has suffered the opposite fate.
Sustainability has never been so important for businesses. Reduced consumer demands and limited transportation in 2020 have created an increasing public awareness of the dangers of climate change and other pollution. Companies are now creating sustainable strategies to compete for the increased demand for sustainable brands.
Mergers and acquisitions are firmly back on the agenda. The COVID pandemic caused widespread uncertainty, but with positive news about a vaccine becoming widely available in 2021 and now that the US presidential election is over, the way is clearer for takeovers, especially of those companies that were weakened by the pandemic’s impact.
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