By Steve Hartridge, published 8/07/20
Every property in Accor’s 270-strong UK and Ireland brand portfolio is now operating with rigorous new health and safety measures in place.
Introduced in response to the Covid-19 pandemic, Accor’s ALLSAFE initiative is a global cleanliness and prevention programme that is independently audited to ensure compliance to a set of rigorous standards.
Developed by the hotel group in partnership with Bureau Veritas, a leader in testing, inspection and certification, ALLSAFE’s hygiene measures and new employee protocols go beyond many national government’s minimum viable requirements to ensure guest and staff safety, Accor claims.
To comply with the standards, hotels must deliver actions including hospital grade room disinfection, deep cleaning of all upholstery and carpets, with bedding washed and treated at high temperatures.
Hotels bearing the ALLSAFE label also feature appropriate partitioning, sanitary measures for guest use and the strict observance of social distancing procedures.
Signatories to the scheme must also show evidence that employees have been through a comprehensive safety and hygiene and training programme.
In the UK, Clifton Environmental Services, a leading specialist in health, safety and hygiene auditing, is assessing all aspects of the programme. The hotel is ALLSAFE approved on completion of a virtual audit by Clifton, followed soon after by an on-site audit.
ALLSAFE also addresses potential concerns for travellers should they feel unwell when they reach their destination hotel. Guests can access free telemedicine consultations, via the expert medical solutions of AXA Partners.
They can also access AXA’s extensive medical networks of thousands of vetted medical professionals, which will enable hotels to make relevant referrals for guests based on their specific language or medical needs should an issue arise.
“The health and safety of our guests and staff were paramount before Covid-19 and are even more so now,” said Thomas Dubaere, COO Accor Northern Europe.
“Building trust amongst our travelling guests, reassuring them that every possible step has been taken to safeguard their health and wellbeing is vital. Guests can now be assured that hotels carrying an Accor brand in the UK and Ireland will be rated by an independent auditor as compliant with some of the most exacting standards in the hospitality industry.”
Accor’s UK and Ireland hotel portfolio is made up of brands that include ibis budget, ibis Styles, ibis, Adagio, Mercure, Novotel, Mama Shelter, Mantis, Pullman, Sofitel, House of Originals and Fairmont.
