China has reportedly seen its first signs of tourism recovery. The country has seen 30 per cent of capacity return in the Chinese domestic aviation market in the last two month as lockdown restrictions eased in the country. Now, a few major hotel companies announced that they have re-opened properties they had closed in China because of the coronavirus crisis.
These properties could see new health and safety measures in place as hotels around the world look to restore confidence in travellers by introducing initiatives like temperature screening, face mask requirements for staff, and contact-less check-in procedures.
Here are some of the hotel brands that have started to open properties in China that were once shuttered by the coronavirus (we will update this story as more announcements are made):
Hilton
Hilton said on May 18 that it has re-opened the hotels it closed in China.
The company closed 150 of its hotels in China in February this year, according to a report by CNBC . It has a total of 255 properties in the Greater China region.
Hilton has launched a worldwide “Hilton Clean Stay” programme designed to reassure travellers in the face of global health concerns. Guests will see changes like the removal of paper amenities and pens, contact-less check-in, “improved” disinfection of hotel gyms.
InterContinental Hotel Group
InterContinental Hotel Group has reopened almost all of its hotels in China despite record low occupancy levels, according to a report from Financial Times.
The company said it has opened 97 per cent of its 470 hotels in China since the country began to ease coronavirus lockdowns and bookings were continuing to “steadily improve”, according to the report.
Starting June 1, IHG’s “Clean Promise” programme will be implemented in all of its properties worldwide, said the company. The new procedures include reduced contact at check-ins, front-desk screens, charts that show when particular public spaces and facilities were last cleaned and a range of other measures.
Kempinski
Kempinski Hotels said on May 20 that it has reopened all of its properties across China, “following early signs of recovery and eased lockdowns” in the country.
Kempinski operates over 20 Chinese hotels in locations including Beijing, Chengdu, Guangzhou, Shanghai, Shenzhen and Xiamen.
