Hotels and more helping out in the Covid-19 fight
These are strange times as we have all acknowledged, with the coronavirus raging its way throughout the world and disrupting all manner of normality (many hotels, resorts, villas and more have been forced to close temporarily due to travel restrictions). It is also a time for communities to come together and assist one another, and the travel industry is no different. Below are some examples of hotels and more in the industry assisting those in need, particularly medical staff and frontline workers.
Claridge’s, London, United Kingdom
As COVID-19 rampages through the United Kingdom, Claridge’s invites NHS workers of St. Mary’s Hospital in Paddington who are unable to return home to stay at the property. In addition to free boarding, doctors and nurses will also be provided with free breakfast and dinner. The hotel will also be cooking daily meals for more than 500 NHS workers and community support teams that will be sent out across London via Meal Force. Staff from Claridge’s, and other hotels in London including The Connaught and The Berkeley have volunteered to help at this time and have also donated thousands of hygiene amenities from soap to toothbrushes.
XO and Four Seasons Hotel New York, United States
At the time of writing, the United States had recorded by far the most infections, with New York state and the city receiving taking the brunt of it.
To help New York City hospitals who need medical supplies, XO will be utilising all of its inbound New York City and tri-state area flights to transport medical equipment from cities across the country. The company is ready and willing to provide inbound flight schedules to any hospitals or medical companies to help coordinate the transfer of supplies.
Four Seasons Hotel New York will be offering their five-star accommodations to doctors and nurses fighting the COVID-19 infection, free of charge.
Le Sirenuse, Il San Pietro, Palazzo Avino and Hotel Santa Caterina, Italy
Italy has been one of the hardest hit regions of the coronavirus outbreak, particularly in the north. Four hotels in the southern Amalfi Coast region have banded together to assist. Each hotel has allocated 10 travel vouchers (offering exclusive stays at the respective hotels) to be sold at EUR €5,000 apiece. The prospective EUR €200,000 generated by the charity drive will then be donated to a local campaign, Together for a Covid-19 Vaccine, which has already made huge inroads in developing a vaccine that could combat the coronavirus.
We applaud each and every one of them for their help in these dire times, and all the others who have also assisted. This is not a definitive or exhaustive list, and we hope to update it as frequently as possible to commemorate the efforts of those in the industry.
When all of this does eventually pass (and it will), be sure to think of these travel partners for your next trip to thank them for their help.