As hotels cautiously reopen for the summer travel season, health and safety concerns are top of mind. Gifted with acres upon acres of land, sprawling luxury resorts and private islands provide plenty of space to feel comfortable without being crowded.
Properties with more space far away from cities are going to be big hits for travelers who are ready to hit the road again. There are CDC guidelines in place for hotels and resorts for cleaning requirements and safety guidelines which are being implemented for both the safety of the guest and employees.
The Four Seasons Hotels and Resorts announced a new partnership with Johns Hopkins Medicine International to develop Lead With Care, an enhanced health and safety program for its properties. Montage International has partnered with One Medical, a leading national digital health and primary care organization, to provide virtual care services to hotel associates and guests.
One of the appealing offerings of these resorts is their outdoor space and the availability of activities to enjoy in the great open space. Hotels will strive to minimize touchpoints while still providing personalized attentive service to its guests.
Getting There and Arrival
Navigating your flight can be stressful. If at all possible, I suggest private jet service. If flying commercial, bring extra masks, gloves and Clorox travel wipes to wipe down your seat and seating area.
Once on the property, resorts have attempted to make check-in as contactless as possible. For example, some resorts are using contactless check-in and check-out through their apps. The app allows you to communicate with hotel staff without having to use the in-room phone or make personal contact.
In some cases, staff members and guests will be required to undergo a temperature verification. All this is being done to provide the utmost in safety.
Your Room
Whether as part of check-in or an amenity in your room, individual Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) kits, complete with sanitizing wipes, gloves, masks, and personal hand sanitizer, will be widely available at many luxury resorts. In-room touchpoints have been minimized and non-essential products, like magazines, brochures, minibar items, water bottles, cotton swabs, and decorative pillows, have been removed. Most properties allow guests to completely skip housekeeping during their stay, or even schedule it as the need arises.
Many resorts are thoroughly cleaned and disinfected once the guest checks out. Linens, towels and robes are carefully folded and bagged without shaking to avoid releasing particles into the air.
All the resorts we spoke with have enhanced cleanliness standards throughout the property, too. Popular in-room touchpoints, like countertops, door handles, light switches, power outlets, and remote controls, are routinely sanitized.
Common Areas and Activities
Most properties are addressing public space safety concerns by ensuring employees, especially those coming into contact with guests, are wearing masks and gloves, as well as sanitizing items passed between them, like pens, keys, and credit cards.
In public spaces, high-touch areas are being cleaned more frequently, and hand sanitizing stations are placed throughout the property. Furniture and decor are being shifted to accommodate physical distancing needs, and fitness equipment is being moved to allow for more space for guests as well as cleaned between each use. High-traffic areas and recreational equipment are being cleaned routinely after each use.
Outdoor adventures are being examined as well, and are either being made private or allowed with appropriate social distancing.
Dining
One major benefit of many of these properties is the wealth of dining options available. As on-property restaurants are being adjusted to accommodate fewer guests, there is plenty of space to fit everyone in outdoor dining venues. In-room dining possibilities have extended to porch drop-offs and even contactless full-meal delivery. In hotel restaurants, food preparation precautions, including wearing gloves and using contactless methods for transferring food to others, are strictly enforced. Menus are wiped down between each use, and some properties are even making menus available online for guests to access with their phones.
Overall, while new health and safety protocols are still being proposed and tested at properties around the world, one thing is certain: Guests can expect a new type of travel experience.
