Spanish resort launches coronavirus-free certificates for hotels
The Alicante Tourist Board and the Provincial Association of Hotels of the Province of Alicante (APHA) have created a security badge called "Alicante Covid Free" for hotels that comply with a series of protocols and security measures.
The Hotel Business Association of Madrid was the first to announce that it was working on protocols to obtain a certificate and the nightlife establishments were
doing the same.
The Alicante Covid-Free badge will appear on the façade of all the tourist establishments that comply with extensive safety and hygiene measures.
"We believe it is essential to prepare for the gradual return to normality and that we convey to our future visitors a message of total security and we will achieve this with the collaboration of our hoteliers, who I am sure will apply each and every one of the recommendations that the Alicante Covid Free document establishes ,” said deputy mayor Mari Carmen Sánchez.
The seal will cover aspects such as the cleaning processes of rooms and common areas and specific hygienic measures for the rest of the hotel spaces such as
kitchens, bar and cafeteria, dining rooms, reception and others.
Other measures will include glass screens at receptions, lifts which are operated by voice so guests don't have to touch buttons, disinfectant gels throughout the premises and possibly taking people's temperatures on arrival.
All hotels will have to be completely disinfected before they reopen and there would be regular cleaning of everything in the premises, including telephones, door handles and furniture.
In dining rooms and around the pools, guests will have to be 1.5 metres apart and at receptions, there will be no manual information to avoid customers touching brochures etc. Instead, all information will be shown on boards.
Hands will need to be disinfected every time a passport, money or cheque card is offered. The use of money will be severely restricted.
Handshakes, kisses or hugs will all be vetoed. Likewise, hands will need to be gelled when entering restaurants and rooms will be cleaned by chambermaids wearing protective clothing and masks.
There will be no buffets and no individual salt and pepper pots or sauces.
The Madrid Hotel Business Association hopes the creation of the "COVID Free Hotels" certifcate will be adopted across Spain and will come into force as soon as possible.
