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Covid-19: Guidance introduced to safeguard visitors and staff as hotels and resorts reopen

RDO / Coronavirus  / Covid-19: Guidance introduced to safeguard visitors and staff as hotels and resorts reopen
Covid-19: Guidance introduced to safeguard visitors and staff as hotels and resorts reopen
26 Jun 2020

Covid-19: Guidance introduced to safeguard visitors and staff as hotels and resorts reopen

As the number of Covid-19 cases continues to decline, lockdown restrictions have been eased and borders around Europe are finally starting to reopen, many without the requirement to self-quarantine if travelling from within the EU/Schengen zone or if coming from a European country with low levels of infection.

Holiday resorts have faced a number of challenges as they prepare to reopen for the summer season and, to help prevent a second wave of infections, they will first have to introduce enhanced measures to make their workplaces safe and secure for the return of staff and guests.

To help accommodation providers during this period, guidance has been issued by tourism authorities in a number of countries, including the UK, Spain and Portugal.  The guidance is intended to help businesses think about the measures they can take to mitigate the risks and can be used in conjunction with government guidance, other advice, and bespoke measures for individual resorts.

RDO fully endorses all guidance introduced; it is vital to help re-build consumer confidence in taking holidays again and to help keep staff and guests as Covid-19 secure as possible.

Guidance generally covers enhanced disinfection, the provision of hand sanitiser around the resort, the use of screens in communal areas, signage and floor maps to help people follow social distancing rules, what to do in the case of an outbreak, number restrictions in bars/restaurants/gyms and spas, staff training, the provision of PPE to staff and enhanced room cleaning.

UK

Guidance for England, Scotland and Wales has been produced by UKHospitality and has been created through consultation with a wide range of stakeholders. It sets out the steps that accommodation businesses need to consider to make their workplace safe and helps them plan and prepare their own operational procedures measured against the Government COVID-19 Secure guidelines.

Spain

The Spanish guidance has been jointly produced by the Spanish hotel association CEHAT and ITH (Instituto Tecnológico Hotelero).  It comes in the form of a check-list for hotels and resorts when moving through the different phases of reopening and takes into account any legislation approved by the Ministry of Health. It also takes into consideration the guide issued by the Ministry of Industry, Commerce and Tourism  providing protocols for the reopening of the sector as containment measures are relaxed.

Portugal

In order to prevent the spread of the virus, hotels and resorts need to follow hygiene and sanitisation measures drafted by the Directorate General for Health. In tourism, the Clean and Safe seal, defined by Turismo de Portugal, has been implemented, giving tourists greater security and confidence in their accommodation. The seal also promotes Portugal as a safe destination.

The validation is free, optional, and is valid for one year.

 

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