What does the catering industry do in the context of the COVID-19 virus | Inspiration March 24
What does the catering idustry do in the context of the COVID-19 virus?
Our perspective on the world has completely changed during the past week, what a paradigm shift! I personally thought that we would no longer post trends and inspiration on Horecatrends. It seems of no importance right now however we also spotted a lot of positive inspiration. So, we want to show you some small positive gestures and inspiration during these anxious times.
Stay healthy and take care of each other! ^Team Horecatrends
Here in the Netherlands we spot a lot of initiatives in the hospitality industry, like hotels offering capacity to hospitals. In the UK the hotel chain Best Western is in talks to convert their hotels into NHS hospitals and in the U.S.A. hotels are used to shelter the homeless and the less seriously ill who have to be in quarantine.
In London a restaurant with one Michelin star reopened as Brat Farm, Grill and Wine Shop. Bucuti & Tara Beach Resort gives an example on how to try to provide your guests with as much flexibility as possible through your cancellation policy.
Click on the title if you like to read the full article. Enjoy reading!
Best Western in England in talks to convert their hotels into NHS hospitals
During this Covid-19 crisis, the catering industry is severely affected and it is crucial for us to all work together. Hotels are currently seeing record low occupancy rates. The large hotel chain Best Western shows an excellent example of how hotels can still be of great use. In the UK, the hotel chain is in talks with the government to discuss the possibility of converting their properties into temporary hospitals to provide the NHS with emergency bed space or staff accommodation as the corona virus spreads. The idea is that the first Best Western hotel converted into a temporary hospital will open at the end of this week. The company also said it hopes to work with other companies to provide the appropriate medical equipment and supplies.
We also spotted a similar movement in the U.S. where hotels are used to shelter the homeless and the less seriously ill who have to be in quarantine. See the following article.
Coronavirus | Oakland hotels to shelter homeless people
California will house hundreds of homeless people in Oakland hotels amid the coronavirus outbreak. The state secured 393 rooms across two hotels, Gov. Gavin Newsom announced Monday night, “to get people out of these encampments.” That number could rise in the coming days as his team works to find additional hotel beds for people sleeping outside. The news comes as the governor announced a homeless resident of Santa Clara County had died after contracting COVID-19. The governor said his team had identified more than 900 hotels that could be suitable for housing the homeless. His team, he said, was in the process of negotiating to convert some of them into temporary living quarters for the homeless. More at Mercury News.
We’ve spotted more hotels that are used in the battle against the virus. As of this week, the Sheraton Fairplex Hotel in Pomona will be used to house coronavirus patients or those who may have been exposed to the disease.
Brat Farm, Grill and Wine Shop | Michelin-starred restaurant reopens as a shop
On Sunday, March 22, Brat, Tomos Parry’s Michelin-starred restaurant in London, opened the Brat Farm, Grill and Wine Shop. They opened a shop in their restaurant where Londoners can support them by buying meals from the team, products from their suppliers and wines. The products are for sale at purchase price, a win-win situation for the entrepreneur, suppliers and buyers. Tomos Parry will prepare a daily changing line-up of dishes. Enthusiasts are able to buy the products from their suppliers to prepare at home. Dishes served include grilled brown crab, fresh fish, and smoked pink potatoes. But also dailyfresh bread and their “signature burnt cheesecake”. They also offer daily changing dishes.
An example of how to provide maximum flexibility for your guests and future guests by Bucuti & Tara Beach Resort. At Aruba incoming visitors have been suspended through March 31st, they’re open for business and busy refreshing, renewing, upgrading and training in anticipation of their guests to return. They have made some changes which are intended to make it easier for their guests to maintain their reservations and even make new reservations without any risk of penalties. They have eliminated all cancel penalties for arrivals through December 22, 2020.
Cancellation Policy: For all arrivals from now to December 22, 2020, for all guests presently booked and for all future guests, we waive all cancellation penalties. Payment is due upon guest check-in. For arrivals December 23, 2020 and beyond, for all guests, presently booked and for future guests, they update to a 30-day non-refundable payment due/cancel policy. They also will not implement or require a one-night deposit for bookings starting December 23, 2020 and beyond. No deposit required.
