The hospitality industry is steadily beginning to work on getting back on its feet with the pandemic now in its third year.
New variants may continue to threaten both travellers and workers, but everyone is doing their best to make proactive efforts to strengthen risk management to keep businesses afloat.
The following are challenges hotel businesses must face so they can reopen this 2024:
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Guests expect their accommodation to be clean and hygienic. Sanitized communal spaces are also a must to help customers build confidence in their management. Notifying guests of the cleaning and sanitation schedules is essential to put them at ease and for the business to secure bookings continuously.
Begin by monitoring the regulations on sanitary standards based on preventive measures. Hoteliers must ensure that the cleaning protocols sync with the best practices. For instance, look into soft towels like those from bursali.co.uk and other similar shops.
Likewise, take note of your stock of essential items such as masks, sanitisers, protective gear, and special cleaning equipment. Install sanitiser stations around the hotel premises, especially in high foot traffic areas.
If the staffing is thin, it’s essential to maximize the housekeeping department to meet the demand. Train them to use technology solutions to centralize both maintenance and housekeeping departments.
They can use digital checklists, communication channels, and timestamps. These will help them to monitor which rooms require cleaning and inspection.
Employers must conduct regular staff testing or health screenings, including checking their temperatures, screening for symptoms, and taking antigen tests. These ensure that workers returning to work will feel safer because they receive proper care.
Besides, hotels must distribute screening questionnaires and conduct temperature checks to detect early signs and symptoms of possible infection. Governments have already set measures for this, but there are still uncertainties regarding implementation, litigation risks, and biometric privacy.
Employers must also follow country-specific guidelines. Utilize thermometers and provide personal protective equipment for employees conducting the screenings and symptom questionnaires.
Social distancing is one of the measures implemented globally to avoid contracting the virus. Thus, guests have inquired about how they can be safe when checking into hotels.
It’s essential to separate the steps involved in the check-in process. Note that checking into a room is different from how to get access to the accommodation.
Checking into a hotel room is typically standardized and involves confirming which guest booked what room. Next, a staff member may offer upgrades and upsell other products or services.
After that comes the ID verification and payment. Alternatively, guests may move to a different room after pre-authorization. Only then can the room key be given to the guest.
Hotels must employ new technology trends such as unified property management systems. They can also make use of technology to promote health and safety during the check-in process, such as:
These are found in the hotel lobby to complete the process. These kiosks are less bulky, have more design options, and offer a complete check-in experience. While they are not touchless and require cleaning and sanitation, they are still helpful when partnered with new staff procedures.
Guests can check in to their rooms remotely before the day of arrival using their PC, tablet, laptop, or smartphone. It is convenient for guests because of its contactless nature. Yet this type of check-in still comes with challenges, like how to know if the mobile check-in is available or operational.
Owners must address challenges within the hotel, such as ensuring that safety measures and operations are running smoothly. A routine investigation of the hotel should include checking fire protection systems.
See if the fire pumps and alarms are all in good working order. The water supply must also be enough in case a sudden fire ensues.
Meanwhile, an event can cause damage to fire prevention systems. For example, water lines may freeze during the winter season. Thus, it’s necessary to tend to such damage before a hotel reopens.
It’s also crucial for hotels to have an emergency backup energy supply during a power failure. Getting electricity back must be a systematic approach rather than bringing it back at once. Therefore, hotel owners must identify issues as soon as possible and know how to best address them in time.
Hotels must learn to adapt to measures to ensure the safety of their staff and guests. Despite an ongoing global battle with coronavirus, the opening up of the hospitality industry has given hope to its millions of workers worldwide. However, following the preventive measures set by governments will help minimize the risks of infection and help people keep their jobs.
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