COVID-19: IHCL puts in place multiple safety measures at hotels

It notes that "cluster seating has to be avoided across the resort" and "all exchanges between guests and associates will be followed by disinfection and sanitisation (pens, bill folders, menu cards, key cards, luggage handling, etc)". Valet parking is temporarily discontinued, the SOP states, adding that all guest cars are directed to the limited designated parking areas by the security team..

Discontinuing valet service, avoiding cluster seating across hotels and disinfecting key cards, pens and rooms after guests use them are some of the safety steps taken by the Tata group's Indian Hotels Company Limited (IHCL) amid the coronavirus pandemic. The IHCL, which operates the Taj hotels, has prepared a standard operating procedure (SOP) for its employees that enlists various such safety steps that they have to follow.

The SOP includes sanitising customer's luggage prior to scanning at the hotel entrance, sanitising tables and chairs at restaurants prior to seating a customer and providing high quality disposable napkins instead of linen options. "All associates wear the prescribed Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) at all times," states the SOP.

The SOP notes that hygiene kits - sanitisers, tissue papers and masks -- are provided at all interaction points for customers and employees to use. It mentions customers are requested to share a digital copy of their photo identification prior to check-in to maintain a contactless check-in process.

To ensure social distancing during check-ins, the hotels have put circular demarcations on the floor, it states. The IHCL runs more than 200 hotels globally. Apart from Taj, it also runs hotels under brands such as SeleQtions, Vivanta, The Gateway and Ginger.

"Only rooms that have been rested adequately post disinfection after a guest's stay are allocated to new guests," the SOP states. Every car of the hotel is thoroughly disinfected before it is used for pick up and drop, the SOP mentions.

"Restaurant sitting is realigned to provide the required minimum distance between tables and also between two seats as per regulations," the SOP mentions. It notes that "cluster seating has to be avoided across the resort" and "all exchanges between guests and associates will be followed by disinfection and sanitisation (pens, bill folders, menu cards, key cards, luggage handling, etc)".

Valet parking is temporarily discontinued, the SOP states, adding that all guest cars are directed to the limited designated parking areas by the security team..