Hospitality industry may use ‘virus compliant’ kitemarks

HOTELS and restaurants could be asked to introduce a type of kitemark to prove they are complying with social distancing rules, the head of the national tourist board has said.

Patricia Yates, director of Visit Britain, has said those operating in the tourism industry at home should be given a consumer mark to show they are safe for customers.

“We are looking at doing a consumer mark, that ring of confidence, so that businesses can look at the guidance, they can go online, they can show that they’re complying with it all and then they can have a consumer mark saying ‘we’re good to go’ that really displays to customers and staff and local residents that this business understands Covid and it’s a good place to go.”

It comes as Boris Johnson is said to be discussing with his Cabinet and scientists how best to reopen the hospitality sector and loosen the two-metre social-distancing rule in England.

The purpose of the consumer mark, which will be similar to the kitemark – the official mark on goods approved by the British Standards Institution – will be to show customers and guests that the operator is conforming to government recommendations. The badge will act as a safeguard for staff as well as visitors, and will involve an online training and assessment session focused on hygiene and social distancing, which suppliers will need to complete before self-certifying.

Ms Yates has previously said that such a mark is something that could be implemented “quickly and effectively”.

She added: “Visit Britain already

‘Spot checks will be carried out and the mark will be stripped from any business found to be non-compliant’

works on common standards for hotels and across lots of different regions. In theory, this new quality mark will work in exactly the same way. Spot checks will be carried out on places that have self-certified and the mark will be stripped from any business that is found to be non-compliant.”

She added that the domestic industry was Britain’s backbone. “Hopefully, people who haven’t holidayed at home for a while are going to be amazed at the quality of what we have to offer.

“This is the year that we need our domestic travellers to save our industry.”