Clean talk

With travelers demanding evergreater levels of cleanliness, we spoke to three hotel professionals to hear how they are maintaining hygiene standards in their properties.

AHMED AKABAWY

Front office manager Kempinski Hotel Mall of The Emirates

White Gloves

We take care of disinfecting all our guests’ items, such as luggage and room keys. All of the hotel employees are vaccinated, and we wear gloves and masks at all times, which is part of Kempinski’s “White Gloves” initiative. Hygiene kits and more

Guests are looking for assurance when it comes to health and safety prior to making reservation, hence we have equipped our property with all the necessary tools. For example, we offer our guests a hygiene kit upon arrival, which includes a mask, sanitizers, mask refreshers and sanitizing wipes.

HARRY MASSOLIN,

Director of F&B Sofitel Dubai The Obelisk sofitel-dubai-theobelisk.com

Frequent sanitization

All of our restaurants and kitchens operate with strict compliance to hygiene guidelines issued by the UAE government. These include hand hygiene, use of PPE, like masks and gloves, and regular cleaning and disinfection of spaces throughout the day, particularly high-touch surfaces (which are sanitized once every hour). The hotel is fully HACCP certified, ensuring the highest levels of food safety. We are lucky to have two incredible hygiene managers who are continually working with the culinary team to ensure that we are always on top of things. Post-pandemic hygiene practices

No matter how rigorous our hygiene regime was before and during the pandemic, we need to continue meeting heightened expectations of cleanliness. As the hospitality world continues to evolve, maintaining a consistent cleaning and hygiene program that uses the right products and clear communication is key to reassuring our guests and our colleagues. Building trust

Guests expect the hotel to demonstrate how it can ensure the highest levels of hygiene. Building trust and restoring confidence is fundamental. There continues to be a focus on the use of digital technology to deliver a contactless experience, high standards of cleanliness, commitment and constant sanitization of common areas.

AMAR PURMESSUR

Corporate director of housekeeping & facilities management TIME Hotels

Hygiene protocols

TIME Hotels implemented a wide range of intensified cleaning measures and sanitization procedures in partnership with Diversey, our hygiene solutions provider. We introduced our new cleaning protocols under the slogan “Sanitised & Ready," which covers the disinfection of public areas and facilities accessible to our guests. From the moment guests are picked up at the airport, up until their departure, we assure that all public spaces, such as the lobby, reception, elevators, public restrooms, guestrooms, restaurants, and other areas, are sanitized every 30 to 45 minutes by our dedicated housekeeping associates. To fulfill our commitment, we have retrained our team and look after their health and grooming to match the new cleaning methods and safety standards. We assigned a champion in every department to act as a hygiene officer, who helped us implement the new cleaning standards. Over a period, we had the entire workforce fully vaccinated, which enabled us to work confidently amid the pandemic. Sanitation rules

Even though some restrictions have been lifted in public places in the UAE, at TIME Hotels, we have kept “Sanitised & Ready” embedded in our daily operations, making all enhanced cleaning measures standard practice rather than just precautionary. Focus on rooms

This ongoing situation has taught us that further efforts must be made to maintain a high level of hygiene and public health and safety. Because of this, we keep on training our associates on cleaning standards. We have strategically placed sanitizer stations in the lobby and in the restaurants, while facemasks are available at reception to meet guest demand. Our “Sanitised & Ready” seal is placed on each guestroom door after it has been deep cleaned and prepared for the next occupant, which provides assurance to arriving guests that they are entering a safe environment.