COVID Safety
What is the all-inclusive resort experience like now? By Mark Chesnut
It happens every year. As temperatures drop in the north, the allure of a luxurious, sun-soaked all-inclusive vacation grows stronger. This year, of course, the urge to get away is different, as travellers and the tourism industry adjust to the “new normal” of travel during the pandemic. But surprisingly, new protocols can actually enhance the all-inclusive experience, as hoteliers up the ante with new services designed to keep guests comfortable and safe. W H AT T O E X P E C T UPON ARRIVAL Vacationers will notice extra care as soon as they arrive at their destination. Sunwing Travel Group, for example, not only flies its own planes, but also operates ground transfers using its own vehicles, following guidelines from the World Health Organization and the Centers for Disease Control. It provides a seamless, safe, airport-to-airport-to-resort experience. All-inclusive hotels have rolled out a variety of new practices to protect guests and staff. Upon arrival, guests are now greeted with hand sanitizer and a quick temperature check. In some locations, they may also step onto a sanitizing doormat and have their luggage sprayed with disinfectant. Guests and staff alike are required to wear masks when moving around most all-inclusive properties, and hand-sanitizer stations are placed strategically throughout hotel properties. Social distancing is encouraged through signage, including in elevators, which now have capacity limits. GUESTROOM CLEANING AND SANITIZATION Guestrooms undergo a thorough cleaning and sanitization between guest stays. For example, at Meliá properties, rooms must be vacant for 24 hours before the next guest can move in. Rooms at Meliá, Hyatt, Hilton and several 24 • Vacations ® • Winter 2020-2021
other all-inclusive properties even place a seal on the door to indicate that the room hasn’t been disturbed since sanitization took place. Many hotels now provide some kind of sanitation kit in the guest rooms, complete with hand sanitizer, disinfectant wipes and a mask. Travellers also have the option to request that no housekeeping staff enter without permission. ALL-INCLUSIVE AMENITIES Technology is a powerful tool for creating safer hotel stays. Many all-inclusive hotels have eliminated or reduced the amount of printed material, inviting guests to access menus and other hotel information via a hotel app or easy-to-scan QR codes. This is especially handy in restaurants, where socially distanced seating is the norm, and some properties have expanded their outdoor seating options. The buffet concept has changed a bit, too, with staffed food stations now the most common set-up, so that guests don’t have to handle any high-touch utensils. Guests will still find nearly all of the usual activities and diversions at all-inclusive hotels in Mexico and the Caribbean, with a few health-minded changes. Children’s clubs, for example, tend to offer more outdoor activities, while gyms may require reservations or have capacity limits. Travel advisors are an excellent resource to help travellers learn more about the latest protocols.
