RIU Hotels & Resorts has launched 17 protocols to guide operations in the hotels when they reopen post-COVID.
The departments applying new measures in their everyday work include reception, housekeeping (cleaning), dining rooms, bars, kitchens, confectionery, goods reception, technical service centre, industrial zones, staff areas, staff transport, fitness and entertainment.
Another crucial part is monitoring staff and ensuring they only attend their place of work if they are in good health, as well as ensuring that no members of staff who belong to risk groups are in charge of hazardous jobs such as cleaning items or areas with suspected cases of COVID-19.
The protocols break down new measures such as limitation to hotel occupancy of 50-60%, checking guests? temperature on arrival, implementation of web check-in, installation of safety screens at reception desks, respecting safe distances and using personal protective equipment (PPE) among employees, disinfecting work stations and equipment at the end of every day, as well as encouraging guests to use the hotel app to search for information and opening hours. The check-out time will be brought forward to 11:00, while check-in is delayed until 16:00 to allow time for the new room cleaning measures. In the lobbies, the information will be displayed on a loop.
In the rooms, all non-essential items will be removed, such as coffee machines, magazines, leaflets and laundry bags. Hand sanitizers will be included in every room.
The use of tried and tested virucidal products will be introduced, and the use of PPE will be compulsory for all staff. In addition, frequently handled items, such as television remote controls, telephones, handles, doors and curtains, will be disinfected every day, and all the surfaces in the rooms will be sprayed with a virucidal product on check-out.
A ?disinfection team? will be created in each hotel, which will specialise in cleaning rooms occupied by people with confirmed or suspected cases of coronavirus. If potential patients cannot be transferred to a hospital, a specific area of the hotel is reserved where strict measures will govern the assignation and occupancy of rooms, as well as cleaning.
Lunch and dinner sittings will be arranged, the restaurants? seating capacity will be reduced and it will be compulsory to disinfect your hands on entry. All guests must wear gloves and mask to go to the buffet, which will now contain more individual portions, more packaged products and more live cooking.
Pools will have capacity limits. There will be safe distances between lounge chairs and umbrellas and cards will no longer be needed to exchange wet towels after bathing. The frequency of cleaning the pool and jacuzzi areas will be increased, and water disinfectant products that are appropriate to the current situation will be used.
The chain?s aspiration is to get back to action as soon as possible and offer all the guarantees within its reach. The chain is experiencing the worst crisis the sector has ever faced, having closed all 99 hotels in 19 countries, but it is now focusing on the work it needs to do to restart operations and welcome back its workforce.
For more information, visit: www.riu.com
