Generally, small-to-medium size hotels contribute to creation of jobs, economic development and wealth generation. According to the Insurance Information Institute, (2010) 40% of small firms never reopen after a disaster; only 26% of small-to-medium-sized enterprises have a disaster plan, and 75% of the largest section of industry has none. With the world facing a global pandemic (COVID-19) the hospitality industry; hotels, restaurants and other destinations and source markets have been badly affected and have suspended operations and commercial activities due to the partial permanent closure of international borders. (Hartman & Nickerson, 2020; Kim, Kim, & Park, 2020; Nastopoulos, 2020). This paper investigates the impact of COVID-19 crisis on small hotels in Accra, Ghana and the existing strategies employed by the hotel industry and how effective they have been. Further, the study also seeks to explore the level of preparedness and identify patterns in the business operations to develop a generic solution that will work best for small hotels used in this study.

The study employs a phenomenological approach as it allows for in-depth understanding of how the crisis has impacted on the small hotels. Using data collected from managers' from six small hotels in Tema and their perspectives and experiences during the Covid-19 pandemic, the study will contribute to understanding the level of preparedness of small hotels and developing coping strategies that can be adopted to enhance future crisis management and avert closures of the small-hotels. The study has implications for policy practitioners that can ensure business continuity and economic development in Ghana and across the region.

Key words: Crisis Management, Hotels, Covid-19, Business Continuity Management