Great British holiday saved but trips abroad are on hold for now
Buffet-free breakfasts, shut spas and empty mini bars on cards as hotels, B&BS and campsites set to open
HOTELS, guesthouses and B&BS will be able to open in England from July 4 if they have special measures in place.
Recommendations to stop coronavirus from spreading including emptying mini bars, offering buffet-free breakfasts and regularly deep cleaning rooms – with 24 hours left between bookings. All paperwork is likely to be removed from rooms, along with the telephone, while plastic pouches containing tea and coffee sachets will either be removed or quarantined for up to 72 hours between guests.
Those checking in should see social distancing stickers, screens at reception and hand sanitiser throughout.
Boris Johnson also gave campsites, caravan parks and self-catering accommodation the green light to reopen from July 4 “as long as shared facilities are kept clean”.
It is thought campsites will be told to ensure tents are pitched further apart than normal, while facilities blocks such as showers will be frequently deep cleaned. Some campsites will be required to reduce the number of pitches and campers are likely be told they cannot have day visitors to limit the numbers on site.
Communal areas such as receptions, shops, laundries and playgrounds are likely to remain closed, with guests advised to bring all their own essentials, including gas canisters.
As with hotels and other overnight accommodation, guests will be asked to pay in advance and use contactless payment rather than cash.
Changes to the rules, allowing two households to meet up, mean that two families will now be able to go on holiday together.
The Prime Minister confirmed: “From July 4, provided that no more than two households stay together, people will be free to stay overnight in self-contained accommodation, including hotels and bed & breakfasts.”
However, while there was good news for anyone planning a staycation, those hoping for a foreign holiday were still left in the dark.
Foreign Office guidance is still advising against “all non-essential travel” abroad.
The UK’S controversial 14-day quarantine policy is up for review on June 29, by which time an announcement is expected to be made regarding “air bridges” that would enable European holidays, with front-runners including Spain, Greece and France.
The “air bridges” plan with a handful of countries would enable people to take foreign holidays without being quarantined, and for their tourists to come to Britain.
Mr Johnson did not give any further specific details on air bridges, but said: “Our plans for quarantine will be based of course entirely on public health. We will not be led by any excessive desire to risk life by opening up the economy too fast.”
There was no indication of when the quarantine rule will be scrapped, or when the blanket Foreign Office travel advice will be changed. Easing of travel restrictions is likely to be done gradually, and will be based on the rate of infection in foreign countries, meaning the likes of Brazil could be months away from restoring normal travel connections with the UK.
Guidance from the hospitality industry has also spelt out the changes needed for hotels and other overnight accommodation to operate safely.
Porters will still be able to carry bags to guests’ rooms but will have to leave them outside. Rather than taking the lift, people will be encouraged to climb the stairs.
Hotel restaurants will be allowed to reopen but guests will be urged to use room service where possible. Food will be left on trays in the corridors which staff will be required to collect regularly.
Guests who fall ill while staying away from home will be asked to selfisolate in their rooms, with food provided on disposable plates, with disposable cutlery.
Infected rooms would then be cordoned off for 72 hours after the person has recovered, with an “Out of action” sign on the door. It is thought that under the latest guidance advising indoor gyms and spas to remain closed to the public that hotels will have to follow suit.
The AA has launched a Covid Confident accreditation scheme for the hospitality industry, to help instil public confidence in domestic tourism as lockdown measures ease.
The free scheme is open to hotels, B&BS, self-catering properties, campsites and other accommodation, as well as pubs, restaurants, cafés and visitor attractions.
The aim is to indicate to customers that a premises has the necessary health and safety measures in place to reopen to the public. Businesses gain a logo and a certificate, as well as being featured on the AA’S ratedtrips.com listings site, which launched in February.
Kate Nicholls, the Uk hospitality chief executive, said: “Getting venues open again, even with social distancing measures in place, is the best way to secure businesses and jobs.”
But she warned that while many businesses would endeavour to reopen, the capacity constraints caused by social distancing would mean some were unviable and government support remained “crucial”.