They say there’s a silver lining to every cloud!
Yes, even in these tough times, hotels around the world are trying to see an opportunity amid the COVID-19 crisis. Their target audience is not the globe-trotting tourist, but guests and locals that are facing a long quarantine period and don’t mind shelling out extra for infinitely comfier, cosier isolation.
With occupancy rates having taken a plunging dive over the past few weeks, the unstoppable spread of the pandemic leaves a very bleak future for hotels in the upcoming months. So, here are some hotels around the world that are shifting gears according to the need of the hour:
Hong Kong, China
The Dorsett Wanchai in Hong Kong is offering a 14-day quarantine package stay costing about US$89 per night. Guests who want to “self-isolate†in peace can book a “Premier Room†with a window that can be opened to let in fresh air – a rarity for the hotels in Hong Kong. The Dorsett chain is also offering 27-day package rates for rooms at nine of its hotels, with several floors set apart for its quarantined guests, who will be temperature-screened twice daily.
Delhi, India
Five hotels in India’s capital city have been earmarked to be converted into quarantine facilities – the Red Fox, IBIS, Aloft, Holiday Inn and Pride Plaza, all of which are close to the international airport. These hotels are offering rooms to Category B travellers i.e. passengers coming from a Covid-19 affected country and/or having other diseases and/or over 60 years of age, yet not showing any symptoms. All precautions and provisions are in place in these hotels – three meals daily, access to WiFi and TV, designated hotel staff to cater to the isolated guests, 24×7 medical teams, and a waste management system – for INR3,100 per day. As of the first week of this month, more than 602 people are using the quarantine facility, across 492 rooms of these hotels.
Switzerland
For those seeking luxury even in the midst of the Covid-19 crisis, there are hotels like the Le Bijou Hotel & Resort in Switzerland that’s offering luxury packages with quarantine facilities, including a Covid-19 test that would set you back by US$500 per night. Le Bijo is part luxury hotel, part serviced apartment, that, in an attempt to tackle dropping revenues in March, came up with the “Covid-19 Service†that offers in-room Covid-19 testing, doctor visits and round-the-clock nurse care, hygiene-friendly perks like automated check-in with minimal human contact, apart from upscale, plush facilities. According to Alexander Hubner, the co-founder of the Le Bijou chain, they hit upon this idea, when they started receiving queries from people who wanted to stay in a posh facility, cook for themselves and have doctors on house calls, without having to go to the more public, local facilities.
Sydney, Australia
The Novotel Sydney Brighton Beach, an Accor Hotels property, is offering a discount of 40% for extended stay bookings 14 nights or more to guests who want to self-isolate. Just a five-minute drive from the Sydney Airport, the hotel has also thrown in several perks, including a complimentary room upgrade that have balconies with a view of the Botany Bay, an all-inclusive room service package and complimentary Wi-Fi and parking.
