Room Mate Group is reinventing all of its cleaning and safety protocols in order to minimize the risk of infection and transmission of COVID-19. Since reopening its first hotel, Room Mate Mario in Madrid on March 21, the company has redesigned its cleaning strategy and protocols in order to guarantee the safety of all the health-care professionals and company employees who are working through this health crisis.
“People are always our No. 1 priority and since we opened Room Mate Mario up to health-care professionals, we have redesigned all of our cleaning and safety protocols,” said Kike Sarasola, CEO/founder of the Room Mate Group. “Once the tourism sector gets back up and running, we will continue to apply these strict and comprehensive protocols across all our hotels. It is our responsibility to restore peace of mind and confidence in tourism.”
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Room Mate Hotels will roll out the following protocols across all of its hotels, and is already implementing them daily in the 13 hotels currently open to health-care professionals and the elderly:
- Specific protocols certified by the health authorities will be applied in the rooms. Additional cleaning and sterilization measures will be taken for all frequently used equipment.
- Mats with a water and bleach solution will be installed at hotel entrances and in elevators to ensure disinfection of shoe soles and suitcase wheels.
- Temperature controls will be carried out on all people entering our hotels.
- Reception areas will be fitted with methacrylate screens and safety distance markers on the floor. In addition, protective masks and gloves will be provided and will be mandatory for both roomies and guests.
- Keys and high-contact surfaces such as lobby access doors, stairway banisters, elevator buttons, desks, door handles and floors will be disinfected regularly.
- Increased cleaning and ventilation in communal areas where hand sanitizing gels and wipes have been made available and where specific signs have been installed to remind guests about social distancing measures. All guests will be provided with a sanitary kit containing a mask, gloves and sanitizing gel.
- All employees are receiving ongoing training to ensure health and safety measures are upheld and to protect the health of guests.
Dining Areas
In the first phase of hotel reopenings, breakfast will be served to guests in their rooms. In the second phase, an à la carte breakfast will be served in the communal areas to avoid large gatherings of people at the breakfast buffet. In the third phase, a staggered breakfast buffet service will be offered, ensuring all the necessary safety measures are followed and minimizing the use of table linen, with guests required to wear gloves at all times.
Communal dining areas will be disinfected and cleaned continuously, ensuring the hygiene of all high-contact surfaces such as chairs, tables and vending machines. In addition, dishes, silverware and glassware will be washed and disinfected, including items that have not been used but may have been touched by guests.