Guidance for hotels and accommodation
Contents
Guidance for hotels and accommodation
This document sets out guidance on how to work safely within the visitor economy, with a particular focus on hotels and tourist accommodation. It takes account of practical considerations and recognises that the detailed arrangements may be different for each business.
It has been prepared by the Department for the Economy, in partnership with Tourism NI, with input from the NI Tourism Recovery Working Group and in consultation with Public Health Agency (PHA), the Health and Safety Executive NI (HSENI) and key Executive Departments, and has been shared with trade unions.
This guidance should be considered and applied in line with:
Businesses must adhere to the re-opening dates relevant and restrictions relating to the full complement of their business. Consideration should also be given to restrictions that may apply to businesses customer base.
On the 22 June regulations specific to Hotels and Tourist Accommodation state:
- Hotels, hostels, bed-and-breakfasts, caravan parks, campsites etc. are currently not permitted to open except for exceptional circumstances (see advice to business, above) although hotels will be permitted to take advance bookings from Monday 8 June 2020.
- Caravan parks, camping sites and self-catering tourist accommodation will be permitted to open from 26 June 2020.
- Hotels will be permitted to open restaurants, bars and outside spaces from 3 July, however, hotel spas and leisure facilities are not permitted to open yet.
Licensed tourist accommodation should also consider:
- The indoor spaces of pubs and bars will also be permitted to open from the 3 July, on a table service basis (people will not be permitted to order either food or drink from the bar area).
- Alcohol can be served in outdoor spaces, such as a beer garden, where a licence permits the business to do so to do so) on a table service basis.
The guidance provides key considerations that each business will need to translate into specific actions for its own unique circumstances. A site-by-site approach is essential and the risk assessment will differ for every business.
Each one of us must play our part in tackling the pandemic and there is an onus on individuals to operate responsibly, in line with the latest public health guidance. Owners are responsible for the conduct of their businesses and should consider how they communicate with both their staff and customers in this regard.
Working safely during COVID-19 in Hotels and Tourist Accommodation
Sectoral Guidance - Hotels
As part of the Tourism NI Tourism Enterprise Development (TED) Programme, we took a look at specific guidance for hotels with expert Janice Gault from Northern Ireland Hotels Federation. These are available to download below.
Sectoral Guidelines – Small Accommodation
As part of the Tourism NI Tourism Enterprise Development (TED) Programme, we took a look at specific guidelines for small accommodation providers with expert Colin Houston from IQ International. These are available to download below. The video webinar will be coming soon.
Other Key Government Guidance
Restaurants, Pubs, Bars and Food Services
https://covid19.tourismni.com/businesssupport
Guidance from your Sector (Sectoral body guidance):
Further guidance has been produced across sector groups to provide businesses with best practise advice for reopening safely.
UKHospitality in partnership with Hospitality Ulster and NIHF ‘COVID-19 advice and risk assessments for hospitality businesses (Northern Ireland)’ for hospitality and visitor sector businesses in Northern, aimed at supporting the safe reopening of the sector in line with overarching Government Guidance. This includes advice for hotels; self-catering and short term lets; bed and breakfast; holiday parks; camping and caravanning and hostels.
UKHospitality, NIHF and Hospitality Ulster guidance
https://www.nihf.co.uk/
https://hospitalityulster.org/
British Holiday & Home Parks Association guidance:
www.bhhpa.org.uk/covid19hs/
National Caravan Council:
http://holidayparkshub.org.uk/article/ncc-guidance-to-help-parks-reopen/
Association of Scotland’s Self-Caterers: https://www.assc.co.uk/policy/cleaning-protocols-for-self-catering-properties-in-the-context-of-covid-19/
Professional Association of Self Caterers:
www.pascuk.co.uk/
Short Term Accommodation Association:
www.ukstaa.org/
Disclaimer:
The information provided gives some guidance and assistance on Covid-19 (new coronavirus) for your tourism business. The guidance is not designed to be definitive but highlights areas that you should consider. Each business has its own requirements, depending on the type of business it is and the guests it attracts, therefore, if you require precise or detailed information on anything mentioned in this guidance, or on the legal implications for you in particular, you should seek professional legal advice.