Hospitality hubs prepare for new normal with stricter hygiene protocols


With COVID-19 infection curves flattening around the region, hotels and restaurants are gradually preparing to re-open for business by adopting more stringent hygiene protocols. In Singapore, as the republic enters its ‘phase two of re-opening and moving towards a new normal’ guests that visit and dine at the Shangrila Hotel can enjoy greater peace of mind. The hotel was awarded a SafeGuard Hygiene Excellence and Safety Label by Bureau Veritas (BV), a global provider of testing, inspection and certification services.
Designed to support the operational restart activities in the hospitality and restaurant industries globally, the SafeGuard Label is part of the "Restart Your Business with BV" programme. The holistic programme developed by Bureau Veritas' Health, Safety and Hygiene experts have certified 132 businesses globally with close to 400 more companies in progress to date. The Shangri-La Group said it is working to obtain the same independent third-party certification for its sister properties in Singapore and the Southeast Asia and Australasia region.
Meanwhile, the Four Points by Sheraton Surabaya in Indonesia has implemented health safety protocols to prevent transmission of COVID-19. These include the implementation of mobile check-in and e-menu to reduce direct contact with guests. For example, guests can enjoy Indonesian specialities and other dishes at the hotel’s Djaman Doeloe Resto & Bar by selecting their orders directly on the e-menus to reduce human-to-human contact.
Face coverings and gloves is now part of the hotel’s employee uniform. Staff and guests will adhere to social distancing with a minimum of two meters apart. The hotel’s restaurants will ensure 50% capacity reduction. In the seating areas in the lobby, meeting rooms and other public areas, hand sanitizers will be available. The hotel will also implement periodic cleaning with disinfectant for areas that are often touched by guests and employees. Checking body temperatures will be done too.

Safer traveller lounges too

Committed to getting the world to travel again safely, Collinson, a global provider of travel experience and loyalty services, deployed new initiatives to boost health and safety for airport lounge staff and guests. As owner and operator of Priority Pass, an airport experiences programme, one of the efforts is a new set of global health and safety standards for airport lounges within the Priority Pass network, a new digital solution to enable more socially-distant and touch-free food and beverage ordering in the lounge. A further digital enhancement allows a more contact-free entrance.
The company also partnered with e-commerce platform Grab, which has a large marketplace for contactless order and pay services at airport restaurants. The companies will launch a new pilot solution that will enable airport lounges to introduce a digital food and beverage (F&B) ordering solution. Travellers can use their smartphone or tablet to place their order for F&B available within the lounge and receive it via safe to-table delivery by a staff member or collect it from a dedicated collection point. This partnership will help airport lounges to continue offering a range of options to travellers in a more convenient and controlled manner. (Image from Shangrila Hotel)

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