IHM Managing Director official media release.

03/01/2020

As we usher into 2021 we would like to wish all our staff, guests, suppliers, all our stakeholders and their families a safe, healthy and prosperous new year. Our role in fighting the deadly COVID-19 pandemic remains a top priority and of paramount importance to our organisation and the hospitality industry.

iHospitality group has introduced a ten-point plan in line with the government COVID-19 regulations with a set of measures and standards to continue with it business of welcoming guests and providing it staff and stakeholders with safety environment.

The measures will enable guests to enjoy their stay in the knowledge that the highest hygiene standards in relation to Covid-19 have been put in place.

In addition to organisation, capacity planning and hygiene measures, the plan also includes ongoing intensive training of all our staff.

The new standards will not only be implemented in the group’s own hotel brands such The Inn, New England Guesthouse, Huttenheights Guest Lodge, Presidents Boutique Lodge,also be made available to the group’s joint venture and hotel partners.

It is part of a more comprehensive package of measures that covers all of the tour operator’s service components, from flights and transfers to hotel stays.

Customer surveys clearly indicate that safety and hygiene will be of paramount importance for holidaymakers and cooperate travellers after the lockdown and I Hospitality Group management and it staff will be responsible for all our guests safety.

With our Group-wide, integrated health and safety management system, we can ensure that our hotels meet guests’ high expectations and offer the best possible protection against infections during these unusual times.

We are laying the foundations for an agile and safe return to business so we can be ready to offer our unique holiday and cooperate stay and experiences again as soon as possible.

The plan is split into four areas, the first being

Staff health and safety

We have taken into consideration the important of our important people our staff. Who will be undergoing a medical check up in testing for COVID19 and fitness to perform duties.

Daily before reporting and knocking off for duty a register with temperature check will be kept and staff will be encoraged to report any signs of influenza and COVID19 symptoms.

All staff will be issued with 2 face masks that covers mouth and noise, personal hand sanitiser and disposable non static aprons for single use for every room cleaned.

Hotel organisation.

Online check-in will become standards, with guests able to make the process contactless to all our establishments by doing pre check ins, checking in via the website or their smartphones. www.byilawu.co.za

In order to ensure social distance in public areas such as in the restaurants, corridors, all employees are required to keep a distance of 1.5 to two metresbetween them and the guests.

For example, tables in restaurants will only be cleaned when guests have vacated them.

Staff will work together in fixed teams in order to reconstruct possible infection chains.

As part of capacity adjustment plans, restaurants will limit the number of guests, while tables will also be set up at a minimum distance of 1.5 metres apart.

In order to provide sufficient space for all guests, the opening hours of restaurants and other hotel facilities will be extended.

Only events involving a small number of participants and without close contact will be made available.

Finally, hygiene and disinfection will play a large role.

The number of disinfectant dispensers will be significantly increased so that guests and employees can disinfect their hands at all important contact points.

All locations where food and drink are offered, and in the lobby area.

Extensive new cleaning practices will be put in place to provide the best possible protection against potential Covid-19 viruses.All rooms will be thoroughly deep cleaned before the arrival of guests and the same intensely robust cleaning protocols will be applied during every guest change over.The most frequently used areas, such as bathrooms, and most used devices and appliances like TV remote controls will receive particular attention.

Self-service offers such as buffets will be reduced to a minimum.Wherever possible, food and beverages will be served to guests by staff wearing protective masks.IHospitality group will train all employees in its own hotels.

The second revised training documents will be made available immediately.Thesemeasures will be in addition to the statutory regulations of national health, local health and environmental safety government by laws.In order to ensure an equally high level of safety, the group has also launched a comprehensive training and inspection programme in cooperation with the leading hygiene and safety consultancy.

This includes training materials, webinars, checklists and customer information and will be made available to the joint venture partners and hotel operators imminently.

With this set of measures, we are creating the framework required to ensure we can offer our guests enjoyable and safe stay as soon travel restrictions are lifted.

I hospitality group can be relied upon to continue working hard, in close partnership with all our establishment, towards the gradual opening up of global tourism.