With the coronavirus situation budging all sectors, here’s what you need to know about the hospitality segment taking care of its guests and staff.
Even when traveling might not be the first thought on your mind, hotels all around the world are making sure current guests or to-be guests are assured of a corona-safe and reliable stay.
Here’s what the biggest hospitality chains are taking on as of now:
MARRIOTT INTERNATIONAL
Living by the motto “take care of our guests and associates” for the past 90 years, Marriott International is assuring the same through its major steps. For guests with existing individual reservations, including reservations with pre-paid rates, changes or cancellation is allowed without a charge up to 24 hours prior to arrival as long as the change or cancellation is made by April 30, 2020. For guests making new individual reservations between today and April 30, 2020, those reservations to be changed or canceled can be made at no charge up to 24 hours before a guest’s scheduled arrival date. They’re also meeting the CDC (The Centre For Disease Control And Prevention) and WHO guidelines – covering everything from handwashing hygiene and cleaning product specifications to the guest room and common area cleaning procedures.
For the Marriott Bonvoy members, changes have been brought to the loyalty program as well. For more information on the same, check https://help.marriott.com/s/global-search/covid19?nck=379125797&ck=49704191&lk=1000411268.
THE PARK HOTELS
At THE Park, all the guests and employees entering the hotels are undergoing body temperature screening and are being provided with liquid hand wash and alcohol-based sanitizers. The facility of 24×7 doctor-on-call is also made available. The facility of 24×7 doctor-on-call has also been made available. Standards of hygiene and cleanliness are being followed sternly, adhering to the latest sanitization guidelines as per WHO.
THE OBEROI
A preparedness and response plan has been placed and is in line with the guidelines of the World Health Organization. At this point, no employee has shown any symptoms that indicate infection of COVID-19. On the direction of local authorities to all hotels in the city, The Oberoi Spa, swimming pool and gym have currently at halt.
HYATT
Closely monitoring the situation, Hyatt has been following the recommended procedures and protocols from various health organizations including the World Health Organization (WHO), U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) and local authorities. For guests residing in Greater China, South Korea, Japan and Italy with reservations at Hyatt hotels globally and guests with reservations at Hyatt hotels in Greater China, South Korea, Japan and Italy, cancellation fees for stays through March 31, 2020, will be waived.
Additionally, World of Hyatt is now extending special exceptions for all Advance Purchase Rate non-refundable reservations made directly with Hyatt on or before March 8, 2020, for travel through June 30, 2020; guests holding these fully prepaid reservations who have decided not to travel may opt to receive 10,000 World of Hyatt Bonus Points compensation in lieu of their stay to use toward future travel at any of our 900+ hotels across 17 brands globally.
THE LALIT HOTELS
The Lalit Suri Hospitality Group has stepped up its precautionary measures on preventing the spread of COVID-19. The staff has been briefed on the guidelines provided by the local health authorities. Front desks teams are equipped to provide any assistance required. Staff and guests who are unwell with any symptoms of fever, flu or respiratory problems have been advised to consult a doctor immediately.
Additional measures include staff briefings to reinforce the rules and practices of good personal hygiene, provision of medical masks for staff and guests, as well as hand sanitizers that are placed at guest contact areas such as hotel lobbies. Special attention is given to sanitize public contact points such as elevator buttons, reception counters, and conference/meeting rooms. The cleaning of guest rooms has also been stepped up. Deep cleaning measures have been undertaken in the restaurants, staff lockers and all the public areas, restaurants and meeting spaces across the hotels.
ATMANTAN WELLNESS CENTRE
The first wellness centre in India to introduce, Atmantan organizes an exclusive ATMANTAN ISOLATION GETAWAY FOR LONGEVITY; specially curated for those seeking isolation or a time-out from the slowdown caused by corona. During the stay, 42 acres of the centre’s lush grounds have been converted to a wellness sanctuary with not more than 75 guests at one time. Tailor made programmes have been weaved into the sanctuary to suit objectives such as boosting the immunity and kickstart the body’s natural healing system. Sanitary and safety measures have been tightened accordingly.
With high alert on corona all around the world, we wish guests as well as hotels cooperate well to mitigate the spread of coronavirus and stay safe.
