Amritsar hotels, restaurants adopt new set of safety measures

Neha Saini

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Tribune News Service

Amritsar, June 24

As the Punjab Government has allowed hotels, restaurants and marriage palaces to open with 50 per cent capacity, industry insiders gear up to adapt to the new normal post lockdown, hoping to get hospitality business back on track. While complying with standard operating procedures and offering regular food services, managements of hotels and restaurants will now be ensuring that the services provided do not lack in safety and health standards.

Those into the hospitality business in the city have already suffered a lot due to the lockdown, so the industry will have to remodel itself with measures that reduce the risk of community transmission as it gears up to open. “It’s a big challenge for both hotel owners and customers but this is something we all have to do now,” says Surinder Singh, president, Federation of Hotel and Guest House Association, Amritsar.

“Hospitality businesses of the city are in limbo and some of the small businesses are on the verge of collapse. If we have to start the chain of economics, we need to adopt the basic safety measures as required to check the spread of Covid-19,” he says.

The new normal for the industry includes use of face masks, face shield and gloves mandatory for the service staff, daily sanitisation of the premises and ensuring safe and hygienic food. Digital menus, disposable cutlery, reduced food menu and limited customers are some of the changes that the industry will have witness.

“These are desperate times and with the government now allowing dine-in facility and restaurants to open with 50 per cent capacity, places that are big enough to follow social distancing easily might start operations and also get customers. The big hotel chains that did not shut down completely during the lockdown or did not let go their staff, have put in all safety checks in place already. But any further progress will only be observed if and when customers decide to come in,” says Gurjinder Singh, owner, Best Western Merrion, Amritsar.

Meanwhile, despite the limitations, hospitality industry people are hopeful of the revival of their businesses.

Speaking out

We have a spacious premises, so our overhead expenses prevent us from not opening immediately under the current situation. But in future, we plan to adopt a digital menu, minimum contact service and safe food as our priority. We will be allowing only 25-30 customers at a time to ensure social distancing. Prabal Talwar, Owner, Clubhouse

Now we need to ensure that we have a safe kitchen, minimal staff and limited food menu. Disposable menu charts and cutlery will also reduce the risk of the spread of the virus. We will be shifting to cashless mode of payment and one person will supervise and ensure that safety measures are followed. Surinder Singh, President, Federation of Hotel and Guest House Association

With a marginal number of tourists and guests visiting the city, we find ourselves in a tough financial position. But to follow the new set of protocols is the only way ahead. We carry out daily sanitisation of our hotel and the staff, especially the service staff, has been instructed to wear face shield, masks and gloves. Gurjinder Singh, Owner, Best Western Merrion

Health is our priority now. The staff is being screened every day. A sanitisation tunnel has been created in the premises. Face shields, masks and gloves are mandatory to be worn in the kitchen as well. Guests are being screened and sanitised and vehicles, too, are being sanitised. Our party halls are sanitised after every party. Shikha Sareen, Owner, Festym Era & Royale