With 41 hotels open across 10 countries, the company assesses its first month of operations, with a positive assessment of the implementation of the How We Care programme and associated measures. As it eases back into operations, the chain has identified quality as its differentiating factor, with safety being key for employees and to the guest experience, along with responsibility through its commitment to caring for people and the environment.
Hotel reopenings are always carried out carefully and according to the epidemiological situation in each area and any changes are monitored throughout the different markets.
The hotel chain, as part of its commitment to safety, is endorsed by the Safe Travel Stamp from the World Travel and Tourism Council.
One month after the gradual reopening of its hotels, Iberostar Group is making a positive assessment of its relaunch of operations in the most unusual tourist season in its history. The company continues to move forward with its reopening calendar in order to work towards the recovery of the industry and promote employment. It also wants to show its appreciation for the support and dedication of its employees and partners, and for the trust of its guests, of different nationalities, who have made the responsible decision of choosing to enjoy an experience that balances well-being and fun with safety and preventing the spread of the virus.
Since the end of June when operations began resuming, Iberostar Group has already reopened 41 hotels in the month of July and continues to assess the possibility of reopening another 10 hotels in the months of August and September. This would allow the group to close out the summer season with 50% of its portfolio operational, depending on the health crisis and market conditions. In the last few days of July, the company has managed to reopen hotels in 10 countries.
In its return to operations, Iberostar continues to monitor the pandemic situation in the destinations where the Group operates, which has been key, along with the implementation of measures ensuring the safety of residents and tourists. Hotels are always reopened with caution and respect for the epidemiological situation in each area, after carrying out a sensitivity analysis to evaluate how suitable it is to reopen the hotel, along with constant monitoring of the circumstances in each territory.
The company has positively assessed the implementation of its How We Care programme and of the safety measures associated with the operating procedures at the hotels, reducing the risks associated to the pandemic. It has identified quality as its main differentiating factor, along with a diversified guest experience, and responsibility through its commitment to caring for people and the environment. The chain has taken the reopening of its hotels as an opportunity to rebuild back a more responsible, sustainable, and resilient tourism industry. The chain has included health and safety as another fundamental pillar of its business model, of its client and guest experience, and leveraged its commitment to sustainability as a motor for recovery. Being a family-owned company, Iberostar has adopted a long-term vision to do so. It has created a link between business priorities and science by creating the Medical Advisory Board and engaging its guests and partners in this commitment. Innovation and sustainability are the keys to a new normal for the Iberostar Group.
Support from destinations and partners is also essential for the recovery of the tourism sector. The company has participated, along with tour operators, airlines and institutions, in familiarisation trips from foreign agents who have been able to experience first hand the new operating procedures and the health and hygiene measures that the chain has implemented. In addition, Iberostar continues developing initiatives to build upon people’s trust in its destinations. Specifically, the company has launched a special campaign called “Become an Iberostar ambassador” with travel agents from Germany, Belgium, Switzerland, the UK, Spain, Portugal, and Eastern Europe – travel restrictions permitting – that allows them to experience the safety measures at the hotels and destinations first hand.
In addition, and in line with its efforts to regain travellers’ trust, the hotel chain has been awarded the Safe Travel Stamp from the World Travel and Tourism Council as part of its commitment to health and safety. From the very start, the Iberostar Group has adhered to the protocols this organisation developed on a global scale in order to actively participate in and help the recovery of the sector.
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