Hotels look to go pandemic-proof to bring back guests

The decision to reopen hotels was announced on Wednesday, but 48 hours later there seems to be no magic wand to heal the scars that the raging pandemic has left on Goa’s

tourism industry

.
While 250 hotels had got the nod to open from July 2, only 148 received the SOP from the tourism department till Thursday night. A few star-rated properties have opened their doors with added safety measures, but many smaller properties are still struggling with logistics. It is to be seen how many hotels manage to open in the coming weeks.
Raies Ahmed from Baga High Q tells us, “We received a confirmation from Goa Tourism on Thursday night. Though we have retained our staff, it will take a while to start operations.” Betina Faria from Grandpa’s Inn in Anjuna, among the 148 hotels that got permits to start, says, “We applied for the permit, but we aren’t ready physically or mentally to open the property yet. Probably by October or later, but we aren’t sure yet.”

WHO’S EXPECTED TO HOLIDAY IN GOA AT THIS TIME?
Luxury properties are expecting high-end patrons looking to escape from the pandemic raging in the metros. “Our loyal clientele from the cities who want to spend more time here have started enquiring,” says Sridhar Nair, GM of The Leela Goa. According to Vincent Ramos, area director of IHCL, Goa “MDs and CEOs of companies and other high-profile guests want to come to Goa and work from a spacious hotel room, with a nice view. We’ve already started getting bookings for the next few months.”
Since prior bookings are mandatory, properties are entertaining pre-bookings online and over the phone as well. Tourists will need a

COVID

negative certificate from an ICMR-approved lab issued less than 48 hours before their arrival or pay `2000 and get a test done in Goa. Hotels are equipping themselves with isolation rooms for people until their results arrive.

WHAT SORT OF

PRECAUTIONS

ARE IN PLACE?
Hotels are trying their best to keep contact to a minimum. Vaibhav Mathur, from Mulberry Suites in Anjuna and Mulberry Mint in Calagute, says, “We have sanitisers, masks and gloves and our security will have an infra red

thermometer

. We have doctors on call, apart from an isolation room and luggage disinfecting facilities. All our staff will follow established safety protocols.”
At IHCL properties, all check-ins, payments and room service are contactless. “People on the frontline will be clad in PPE. We have sanitisers, masks, fumigation of luggage before it enters the hotel apart from regular disinfecting all around. Suites and rooms are rested after check-out, before reoccupation,” says Vincent. The safety precautions are similar at Planet Hollywood. “There are

PPE

kits and masks for employees, sanitisation tunnel at guest and team entry points, hundreds of pedal-operated sanitisation points. All goods and materials are brought in after sanitisation,” says GM Anand Chatterjee.

WHAT ABOUT SOCIAL DISTANCING?
Hotels are spreading out seating arrangements. Most top-end places have meticulous plans to regulate movement across common areas like lobbies, elevators and restaurants to ensure social distancing. Alkesh Desai, business development manager of Oyo, says, “We’re targeting 800-900 rooms across properties. We will be following MHA guidelines and OYO guidelines to decide on opening. All the areas will be marked and there’s a team to ensure all safety measures are practiced.”

WHAT ABOUT F&B SERVICES?
Sit-down dining is restricted across most properties, though hotels are focusing on room service. Liquor is still not being served, as per government instructions. “Restaurants will open later, but we will have contactless room service,” says Vincent. Sridhar mentions one section of the lobby restaurant, where food orders can be placed. Planet Hollyowood is curating exclusive dining experiences in the room, at either the adjacent garden or in the balcony. “Restaurants will operate with social distancing norms. Guests can drink in the room,” says Anand.


Longer Stays, Better Business for Goa
Luxury and starred properties have stringent safety measures in place, and I hope all the others follow too. Guests will come to Goa only if they find it safe. There’s no cap on the number of days they can stay in Goa, but the longer the people stay, we will get better business, since the number of tourists will be quite low. We are expecting people coming by road from nearby cities or flying from other metros.
– Nilesh Shah, president, Travel and Tourism Association of Goa

Maintaining Safety Precautions is important
A lot of people in Goa depend on tourism and I believe opening tourism by taking the necessary and safety precautions is the way forward. We have to adapt to the new normal and reset the way we think and move on with our lives. We cannot hide from the virus forever. We have to face the virus and continue with our lives
– Varun Carvalho, musician, Margao


People in tourism have been jobless for MOnths
Cases are going up every day, so precautionary measures need to be taken for tourism to function smoothly and help people start earning again. People are suffering as they have been jobless for a few months, but tourism should be opened after ensuring that rules are strictly followed

– Cecille Rodrigies, dance instructor and social activist, Taleigao

Testing Tourists at ENTRY points will be a chaotic affair
This is the worst decision the government could have made. We’re told that tourists will be screened at the entry points. But this simple exercise will be chaotic. Also tourists who come with clearance certificates need not get tested here. We all know that these certificates can be bought. If the government was so concerned about the economy, why did they ask us Goans to stay home, at the cost of losing our businesses and jobs?
– Prasad Pankar, fashion photographer, Mapusa