#SocialDistancing #Hotels #TheNewNormal

Fact takes a look at how hotels in the UAE are implementing social distancing practices.

As hotels and restaurants throughout the UAE are permitted to reopen, strict social distancing practices have had to be put into place to ensure the health and safety of both staff and guests in compliance with UAE government advice.

At the Fairmont Ajman, guests temperatures are monitored upon check-in and poolside, while physical distancing practices have been implemented at the beach. The Ajman Tourism Development Department (ATDD) announced several precautionary guidelines that must be adhered to, including the placement of visible floor markers for social distancing, ensuring a minimum of 2 meters between visitors at queue areas such as reception and concierge and the placement of hand sanitisers and disinfectants at entrances.

Meanwhile, visitors to the Palazzo Versace Dubai at Jadaff Waterfront can expect several “no-touch” experiences, from keyless no-contact check-in and sanitation of luggage to mobile ordering systems in all the restaurants, including room service. A Sterix Eco sanitising tunnel has been installed at the entrance of the hotel to ensure sanitisation of everyone entering the property, in addition to a 24/7 sanitisation team that has been deployed to disinfect all touchpoints in public spaces, including the restaurants, lobby, bars, The SPA, prayer rooms, elevators, washrooms and offices.

Restaurants at the luxurious five-star hotel have also introduced reduced seating arrangements, to ensure 30% of the original capacity and maintaining a distance of 2 meters between tables. Food is served with disposable crockery and cutlery, and smart payment solutions such as card or online payment are encouraged.

Guests at the JA Resort in Jebel Ali are now able to enjoy both the shooting club and the equestrian centre, while the 800m private beach is open to in-house guests, members and package holders only. Precautionary measures such as the distance between sun loungers and the number of people allowed in public areas at any one time are being adhered to as per the UAE Government’s current safety and sanitisation regulations.

As lockdown restrictions are eased, hotels and businesses in the UAE are having to adapt to a new version of normal and with the majority of UAE residents remaining in the country this summer due to global travel restrictions, hotels are likely to see an increase in the number of staycation guests.