4 things a hotel should consider to safeguard its future

The coronavirus pandemic continues to be the biggest test the hotel industry has ever faced. Many of us are still dreaming of when we can start booking travel again. In the United States, cases have now decreased to levels during winter 2020 but there are restrictions on visitors from many countries, such as a ban on all tourists from China, Brazil and the UK.

In the UK, new figures suggest that hotels, travel and leisure firms are taking on workers at the strongest rate since late 2015. That’s despite a surge in cases caused by the Delta (Indian) variant of coronavirus and the Alpha (Kent) strain. No person is permitted to enter the UK if they’ve been in or through a country on the red list unless they’re British, Irish or have the right to live in the UK. Countries on the red list, as of the middle of June, include Brazil, Egypt and South Africa.

Australia and New Zealand are maintaining their low infection status but are still behind when it comes to vaccinations. In Australia, there are plans to re-open the border in mid-2022. In New Zealand, the border is currently closed to almost all travellers to help stop the spread of COVID-19.

Guests from all over the world are hungry to break the shackles and venture further afield, but in most countries, staycations are the order of the day. A willingness to explore destinations closer to home has resulted in a surge for accommodation in many countries. With signs of a recovery, managing the health and safety of guests and employees continues to bring the biggest challenges.

The transient nature of hotel guests means germs can easily be brought onto a hotel’s premises. Despite the success of vaccinations, this is no time to rest on our laurels. Making the safety of guests and employees your priority will allow them to feel safe, relax and enjoy their break.

Our free eBook, Hotels: safeguarding your future, explains the steps your hotel could take to safeguard for the future. Here are three important questions to consider.

Will air purification provide more hygienic air?

The growing awareness of airborne transmission of viruses is leading people to question indoor air quality (IAQ). Airborne germs can trigger allergies or spread infection and disease. Understanding and controlling common pollutants indoors can help reduce indoor health concerns. Initial’s air hygiene solutions are designed to reduce cross-contamination across your hotel.

•  InspireAir 72 HEPA13 removes over 99.95% of airborne particles that are 0.3 microns in size or larger, for healthier indoor surroundings.
•  Biozone reduces bacteria in the air and combats bad odours that can make an environment seem unclean.
•  EcoBreeze filters, cleans and fragrances the air in washrooms to maintain a pleasant-smelling experience for guests.

How can your hotel improve cleanliness?

Deep-cleaning minimises the risk of infections being passed on via surfaces – reducing the possibility of cross-contamination for staff and customers. Initial’s disinfection services sanitise touchpoints, surfaces, equipment and floors, with solutions that include the following.

• A range of sprays and surface wipes that can kill pathogens and prevent cross-contamination, providing up to 24-hour protection for high-usage items, such as remote controls, light switches and headboards.
• HygienicTouch door handles that limit the spread of bacteria deposited on the surface of the handle by people’s hands.
• Serviced floor mats that capture up to 80% of microorganisms before they’re spread through your hotel and demonstrate care and consideration to your guests.

In addition to supporting the hotel industry with innovative hygiene solutions, our sister company, Rentokil, also provides a range of disinfection services to help hotels deal with the effects of COVID-19.

How can you ensure good hand hygiene for guests and employees?

Germs and pathogens can spread easily throughout a hotel building – via person to person, surface to person or in the air. Throughout the day, hands that touch contaminated surfaces can transmit germs to other surfaces or directly to people.

By opting for a range of hand-sanitising solutions that include no-touch technology, the risk of germ transmission is lower. Initial provides a range of innovative hand hygiene consumables that include the following.

• Hand and surface sanitisers provided at key locations will help minimise the risk of cross-contamination amongst hotel amenity users.
• No-touch paper and linen dispensers that lower the risk of recontamination by reducing the amount of moisture and microorganisms left on the hands after washing.
• High-performance sanitising consumables that minimise the risk of cross-contamination among hotel users.

Initial are also able to educate staff on correct handwashing procedures and glove usage policies to minimise the spread of germs from hands to food and surfaces.

The importance of pest management

Hotels are one of the most common places that bed bugs are found. After the shutdown of non-critical businesses and services to reduce the transmission of COVID-19, many buildings have been left empty or with reduced human presence, resulting in a greater risk of pest infestations.

Designed to address common hotel pest issues, Entotherm heat treatment, from Rentokil, will protect your business from the threat of bed bugs and insect infestations. Find out more about innovative pest control for hotels.

What next?

By ramping up cleaning measures in your hotel, you can help protect the health and safety of your guests and employees now and in the future. At Initial, we understand how important this is to you, which is why our award-winning integrated solutions will help take care of your people and safeguard your business.