Hotels

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Hotels officially allowed to open in Level 3 – Here’s what they must do

Hotels, lodges, B&Bs and resorts can officially welcome back guests, but must adhere to a strict set of guidelines that can be read here.

Hotels

Photo: Adobe Stock

The latest government gazette outlines exactly how hotels, B&Bs, lodges, time share facilities, guest houses and resorts need to prepare before they welcome guests back this week. 

The latest regulations mean that guests can return to such facilities effective immedietely, but there is a strict set of rules that follow.

Record keeping: 

Establishment owners will need to keep a detailed set of personal details of all employees and guests, for the ease of contacting people if a COVID-19 infection is reported. The details they must keep include: 

  • Full names
  • Identity Number or Passport Number
  • Nationality
  • Nature of position (i.e. temporary, casual or permanent)
  • Residential address
  • Cell phone numbers, of all employees and guests. 

In the case of a guest with multiple stays at the hotel, the record obtained on the first day must be updated when necessary and remains valid for the duration of the stay or of employment.

Owners must make such records available to government and keep them for the duration of the national state of disaster and retain the record for a period of six weeks after the end of the national state of disaster.

Hotel check-in and PPE: 

Medium-to-large sized businesses, and smaller operations which can handle guests exceeding 50 per day, must:

  • Set up special screening stations just before or after entrances, at the front of queues, to facilitate screening and sanitisation at each and every entry.
  • Conduct a screening questionnaire and take precautionary measures to protect the person and other persons on the premises (such measures may include denying such a person access to the premises).
  • Where necessary, after a screening, isolate a person in a facility within their premises designated for isolation.
  • Ensure that guests wear masks at all times except when eating or are in their bedrooms. 

Bedroom hygiene and check-out:  

When taking care of bedroom hygiene and allocating room space per guest, the following rules apply: 

  • Where dormitory-style bedrooms are used, a 50% capacity must be adhered to with 4-5 square meter minimum spacing per bed.
  • Room cleaning and linen change frequencies must be implemented to lower contamination risks to guests and employees, with turndown service must be eliminated and all excess soft items such as cushions, throws, extra blankets, décor items and other superfluous items made available for guest collection upon only upon request.
  • Sanitiser must be provided in all guest rooms and units for guest use.
  • Employees must wear Personal Protective Gear when cleaning bathrooms and may use disposable aprons.
  • Room cleaning employees must sanitise their hands and shoes and aprons on finishing each room and before entering the next room.
  • When guests check out, all appliances and surfaces must be vigorously cleaned.
  • There must be efficient bedroom ventilation through effective air conditioning and /or opening of windows especially during bedroom cleaning.

Conferences:

Conferences held at hotels can host no more than 50 people, and there are several other guidelines that conference organisers will need to consider, with record keeping and sanitation protocols the same as regular guests checking into accommodation facilities.

  • Ensure that delegates wear masks at all times while at the conference.
  • Pens and paper must be given to guests on request, and all leftover pens must be disposed of or wiped down.
  • Only provide individual water and individual mints condiments. The use of containers or bowls is prohibited.
  • Sanitise microphone and podium after use by every person.
  • Designate a seat for each delegate and not allow a delegate to change the seat