Kempinski Hotels has now reopened all of its properties across China, “following early signs of recovery and eased lockdowns” in the country.
The group recently launched a new ‘White Glove Service’, designed to reassure customers in a post Covid-19 world, while continuing to offer a luxury service.
Michael Henssler, chief operating officer Asia and member of the management board for Kempinski Hotels, said that “Our hotels in China have done great work in ensuring the health and safety of our guests and employees during the past weeks and months, and we are closely following the recommendations of global and local public health authorities, including the WHO and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC)”.
Kempinski operates over 20 Chinese hotels in locations including Beijing, Chengdu, Guangzhou, Shanghai, Shenzhen and Xiamen.
“People here no longer look for the best hotel, the greatest dinner or the lowest price, but for the safest experience, said Henssler. “These are unprecedented times for the hospitality and catering industry. Travel is not a question of price, but a security issue.”
Measures include mandatory temperature checks for everyone entering the hotel, daily air purification of dining outlets, complimentary hand sanitiser and face masks for all guests and employees, and the enforcement of local laws on social distancing in all restaurants and public areas.
Kempinski said that while “Takeaway and online ordering programmes are nothing new for most restaurants in China”, for luxury hotels “focusing on the highest level of service and guest experiences, a takeaway service is a new business approach”.
To this end the group’s Chinese properties have partnered with leading food delivery companies Meituan and Eleme APP to launch online food and beverage sales ensuring a contactless service for guests.
Major hotel groups are gradually reopening their Chinese properties, with Accor recently highlighting that its revenue per available room (RevPAR) in China is “showing some recovery”, while Hilton this week announced it had reopened all of its closed hotels in mainland China.
