The Government’s plan to rebuild was published on the 11th of May. In it, there were suggestions that providers of accommodation, including glamping sites, could be given the go-ahead to start reopening as early as July 4th.
This date is not set in stone, however, and is dependant on the country continuing to meet the five tests set out by the Government involving the NHS, death rate, rate of infection, availability of tests and PPE, and confidence that a second peak can be avoided. On top of this, accommodation site owners will be required to follow measures to ensure the safety of their guests.
Currently there has been very little follow-up to the announcement, with many business owners left in the dark regarding the measures they will have to take to make their sites safe and when exactly they can reopen.
We thought it would be useful to take a look at what other businesses and companies are doing throughout this crisis to get a better understanding of how best to come out of lockdown and resume business.
Booking Platforms
Since the announcement made by Boris Johnson that the hospitality sector could reopen by July 4th, online booking sites have seen large increases in bookings made, however these numbers are still lower than at the same time last year. With international holidays for the summer being avoided by most, the country is looking a bit closer to home for their breaks, which many are hoping will lead to a ‘staycation boom’.
Online booking sites are adapting to the current crisis by offering coronavirus booking guarantees, with lower initial deposits, more flexible payment dates, and the ability to change the date of your visit depending on the lifting of restrictions. The refunding of previously un-refundable deposits is being made for any bookings that had to be cancelled due to the lockdown also.
Many booking sites are also featuring glamping sites that they class as coronavirus safe. On these sites a number of measures have been taken to ensure that social distancing can still be maintained, and extra cleaning implemented.
Glamping Sites
Glamping sites across the country who are preparing to reopen are adopting a number of new practices that are in line with what other business sectors are being asked to do. These are short term responses that will allow your business to transition out of lockdown immediately without any further delays.
Here are some examples of what sites are doing to prepare for the end of lockdown:
- Glamping sites with extra land available are making the decision to open up second fields and are moving accommodation so that each plot has more space, and guests are less likely to cross paths. Other sites are deciding to reopen at a reduced capacity, sacrificing some of their units to ensure the safety of others.
- Communal areas are also being rethought with the introduction of timetables for facilities such as shower blocks and kitchen areas so that guests don’t all gather in these areas at one time. Others are adding to the facilities that they already have available to make sure they do not get overcrowded.
- Many are making the decision to reopen the basic facilities that they have on site, such as accommodation, and waiting to reopen the non-essential communal areas such as farm shops and group activities.
- Self check-ins, are also becoming increasingly popular and are a great way to reduce contact between staff and guests.
- Some sites are even going as far as to introduce one-way paths and travel routes throughout the site so that guests don’t walk past each other face to face.
- Cleaning will also be more important after the lockdown has ended. Cleaning measures will need to be more stringent and more numerous as it has been proven that the virus can remain on hard surfaces for some time. Full antibacterial cleaning of units between visitors is being adopted, with more frequent cleaning of all communal facilities as well. These new measures will likely end up being more expensive, but also absolutely essential for reassuring guests that your site is safe.
- The need for PPE (personal protective equipment) for returning staff will also be an area to look into as once the hospitality sector is reopened there is a good chance you will need a steady supply.
- It is vital to check with your insurance provider to discuss the issue of liability should someone get sick at your site. Currently there is very little information available about this subject, so it is important that you find out the specifics from your insurance provider.
- Terms and conditions will also have to be reworked. Examples seen so far list the precautions that are being taken and the new safety measures put in place. Once government guidance is released it will be important to show that you are stringently following the advice that is being given.
- Certification schemes are already in the process of being set up that will reassure guests that the government advice is being followed. While not ready yet, VisitBritain are creating such a scheme where site owners will have to complete a free online test to make sure they are following governmental guidelines and in return will be awarded with a quality mark and certification.
While these are great practices to introduce to your business to get ready for the end of lockdown, it is still unclear if these measures will be enough, since there has been no update on what the Government will want to see from glamping sites once the sector is reopened. Booking site owners and glamping site owners are both urging for greater clarity from the government.
Long-Term Changes
The examples above, of how sites are preparing to reopen in the short term, are very important. They are what will allow these businesses to transition out of lockdown as quickly as possible. Long term measures will also be important going forward in preparing for a possible second spike and the possible permanent changes that might be seen in consumer trends.
- Diversification is important. Many businesses have been turning to diversification to see them through the lockdown. By introducing another source of income to your business you are decreasing the reliance that you have on another. The unfortunate reality is that this lockdown may not be a singular event, so it is important to keep all options available to you open.
- The lockdown has also seen a change in consumer trends and how we interact with each other. The trend of experiences over material products is one that has been occurring for a while now and lockdown appears to have accelerated this, with more and more people eagerly planning how they will spend their time once restrictions have been lifted. This is great news for glamping site operators as that is exactly what they are offering, an experience.
- An online presence has also never been more important than it is now. Most holidays and trips are already booked online through either a booking platform or a dedicated website. This trend has also been accelerated because of the lockdown as more people than ever are becoming familiar with booking trips themselves online. Right now, this means making sure your website is up to date, informative and eye-catching, but further down the line it will become more and more important that hospitality businesses have good online methods of communication with their customers via websites, booking platforms and social media.
- Brand values appear to be becoming more important as well, so if your helping your local area in any way through this crisis, let potential customers know. Any steps that you are taking to prepare for the end of lockdown should also be made public as this will assure future guests that you are working hard to make sure your site is safe.
Until further government guidance is released, site operators are being left to do what they think is best for their business. Ultimately, none of the preparations that you take now will be penalised, and even if some of the precautions you put in place end up unnecessary, each and every one will reassure your guests that you are putting their safety first.
Header image courtesy of Home Farm Glamping
