Samir MC: Creating safe, hygienic & stress-free environment holds the key
Regions and countries are beginning to open up, but the Coronavirus pandemic has undoubtedly changed what amenities travellers seek once they decide to stay in a hotel.
Experts foresee hospitality players that are able to implement new hygienic standards that go beyond the paper wrap over the toilet seat having an edge over competitors.
Keeping up with the changing dynamics of the hospitality business, major hotel companies are experimenting with electrostatic spraying to disinfect interiors, and ultraviolet light to sanitize room keys.
Radisson Hotel Group recently announced its Radisson Hotels Safety Protocol, a new program of in-depth cleanliness and disinfection procedures, in partnership with SGS, the world’s leading inspection, verification, testing and certification company.
The company has conducted a thorough review of all existing health and safety processes and worked with a team of experts to develop and validate additional protocols. These enhanced protocols, operational guidance and comprehensive health and safety procedures validated by SGS, will be adapted based on local requirements and recommendations, to ensure guests’ safety and peace of mind from check-in to check-out.
Some of these guidelines include hand sanitizing stations at all entrances, the use of Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) and protective screens, enhanced and recorded cleaning and disinfection frequency, social distancing in all areas of its hotels, including in the Meeting & Event facilities, training in local, Centers for Disease Control, or World Health Organization recommendations and health guidelines, reiteration of food safety standards and comprehensive staff training.
Radisson Hotel Group will be introducing an official label of cleanliness and disinfection issued by SGS to ensure the highest Cleanliness, Hygiene and Safety standards, as confirmed by SGS through a centralized validation process.
“At Radisson Hotel Group, we are committed to delivering a clean and safe environment for our guests and team members. The world has been fundamentally changed by COVID-19 so it is key that we strive to protect all who work, stay and partner with us as we re-open our doors to a new era of travel. To do this we have thoroughly examined all areas of the hotel experience, and we are proud to have partnered with SGS to create our Radisson Hotels Safety Protocol program,” said Federico J. González, CEO, Radisson Hospitality AB and Chairman of Radisson Hotel Group’s Global Steering Committee.
On the other hand, closer to home, Fortune Hotels, a member of ITC’s hotel group, has announced the launch of ‘Safe Stays At Fortune Hotels’, a comprehensive safety and hygiene programme for guests and associates that revolves around a safety and hygiene protocol, from pre-arrival to check-out. This programme is set on 10 pillars of safety and hygiene that will be diligently implemented across its hotels as they re-open/ commence operations.
Further, the chain has tied up with TQS Global Management System, a leading Food Safety and Research Firm, to embark on a journey to acquiring CORE 19 (Covid Secure) Safe Practices Protocol blended with Deming Cycle certified under ISO Standards, for its properties pan India.
All Fortune hotels will undergo a phase-wise implementation, training and certification exercise over the next few months. TQS Global has been associated with the Fortune Hotels for over seven years now and has effectively trained over 350 associates for OFQUAL British certification and implemented food safety and hygiene protocols across the chain in various capacities.
Samir MC, Managing Director, Fortune Park Hotels said, “The world is undergoing a vast change in the way we travel, stay, and socialize. We realize that the Covid-19 outbreak will change the nature of holidaying and doing business altogether. This hygiene programme and certification are thus important steps forward towards re-defining our spaces and experiences thereby creating a very safe, hygienic and stress-free environment for our guests.”
The ‘Safe Stays at Fortune Hotels’ programme, comprises an all-encompassing protocol and best practice adherence around 10 key pillars namely- deep cleaned & sanitized Rooms, safe public spaces, social distancing for hospitality, F&B hygiene and safe handling procedures, safe meetings, hygiene check stations, trained & sensitized staff members, hygiene code of conduct, emergency response protocol, and no contact payments & bill settlements.
The process shall include implementation and certification towards Covid safety protocols and ISO 9001 which is a Standard developed for the certification of Quality Management Systems (QMS) to enable effective system integration.
“Transparency and tangible cues will give consumers more comfort,” Donna Quadri-Felitti, Director of the hospitality management school at Pennsylvania State University was quoted in a story published in The New York Times, adding that housekeeping logs may become public. “Robotic cleaning is still novel, but there’s a lot of talk about automation.