A Chance to Re-Remember: What We Have Learned from a Year of Social Distancing and Human Connection
The Cold Moon, last full moon of 2020.
How a pandemic (aka The Rona, The Vid, Coronavirus) taught us survival is about coming together and, now more than ever, reminding ourselves to turn inward.
By Stephanie Farr, Maya Luxe Founder
Ayear ago at this time, we were all enthusiastically setting our resolutions. The countdown was fast approaching for making grandiose intentions as we were about to not only ring in a new year but rather starting a new decade. 2020 was THE year to realize our dreams, to embark on that epic trip we always dreamed of, to start that new project we were putting off since 2010 –it was the year to make sh*! happen!
And then, taken by surprise just two months later, the entire world stepped into unknown territory faced with a pandemic (aka The Rona, The Vid, Coronavirus, Covid-19). We went into a global lockdown and, very soon after, leisure travel came to a complete halt.
For Maya Luxe on a macro level, the biggest challenge initially was how to make quick decisions while navigating so many unknowns. Business came to a standstill and we were faced with hundreds of booking cancellations. But the biggest challenge for us was found more on the micro level. How can we continue to keep our team members employed while the company revenue was minimal? What about our villa owners? Some have invested their life savings into their rental homes and are highly dependent on rental revenue to offset their expenses and keep their villa staff. How do we navigate with responsible and safety health measures while serving our guests? How can we support our local community which also was deeply affected by the lockdown?
Survival throughout these challenging times was mainly achieved by coming together, whether it be with our team, our guests, our villa owners, or our partners. It was about reconnecting with the human-ness of what we do through connection, empathy, and the overall notion of understanding that we are all in this together. Physical distance may have been required, but socially we all came closer (thank you, Zoom!). In addition, thinking outside the box and pivoting on various biz aspects, helped us bounce back on our feet.
We are also very lucky within our industry. As international borders opened, we were increasingly catering to typical hotel enthusiasts now wanting to be in the confinement of a private home for their vacation. Not to mention, Riviera Maya became a Mecca for tourism due to the government’s relaxed travel restrictions when entering the country. Covid testing and quarantine are not required, so while many countries continue to be in lockdown, this region has become the perfect vacation playground with beautiful beaches, warm and sunny weather, trendy restaurants, nightlife, cultural sites, and a plethora of activities to enjoy.
From our latest trip to the local community of Cristo Reyes outside Playa del Carmen.
Without a doubt, it took a lot of perseverance on so many levels to push through this year. The biggest thank you goes to our Maya Luxe team, who really came together and also put their heart and soul into seeing the company through these challenging times. Not only were we faced with the challenge of Covid, but we were also greeted twice with hurricanes this early fall.
Luckily, there were no devastating damages, but mother nature was definitely testing the will and strength of everyone in the area. So we rose to the occasion. Through our Rise program, we have been supporting and feeding our local communities. Thanks to the astounding generosity of our global family, we have been able to deliver care packages with essential items to those who needed them most. Also, we have contributed funds to the rebuilding efforts after the storms and to give those who were hit the hardest a helping hand.
Favorite lockdown moment was seeing our team, our homeowners, partners and community come together through our Virtual Experiences. The purpose of these was to bring a slice of Riviera Maya to our community of guests stuck in quarantine. But ultimately, our root intention was to help raise funds to feed and support local families who lost their jobs and homes during the pandemic. And I have to say, we were overwhelmed by the amazing response we got.
At the same time, one of the biggest lessons we have learned is to expect the unexpected. In times of adversity is where we find opportunities to grow, to thrive, and recalibrate. Most importantly, through collaboration and unity, we can overcome any challenge. Pre-Covid, we were all so busy planning, going places, and moving at such a fast pace. This pandemic, while strenuous and detrimental on so many levels, also gave us the gift of pausing, unbecoming, slowing down, reconnecting with nature, and truly focusing on what is important for us. Something we each need to remember moving forward.
That all goes to say, as we are about to enter 2021, Maya Luxe also approaches its 11th birthday, and we too have reflected on what shifts and pivots we can make to keep up with this rapidly evolving villa rental industry. Above all, our lesson has been to turn inward to strengthen our core foundation, to re-remember our company values, and to reinforce relationships. Now more than ever, we have a chance to set the intention on creating momentous stories with our guests, and to be grateful for everything this magical destination has given us. It’s our turn to give back. To give back to our community, to our environment and, most importantly, to ourselves.
We wanted to, once again, thank each and every one of you for being part of the Maya Luxe story. We look forward to our next chapter together. May 2021 be filled with health, happiness, abundance, unique moments, playfulness and lots of vitamin C, D, and zinc.
